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Jared Jones Jared Jones Working on two-seamer
Thu, Feb 20, 2025, 8:43 PM
Jones has worked on a two-seam fastball this offseason and will test the pitch in spring training games, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Jones had a breakout 2024 season, but his 1.3 HR/9 was a blemish in his skills profile. Like teammate Paul Skenes, Jones is working on a pitch with sinking action in an attempt to keep the ball in the yard more effectively. That could also hurt his potential strikeout upside, though he didn't commit to using it in the regular season. |
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Andrew Heaney Andrew Heaney Inks one-year deal with Pittsburgh
Thu, Feb 20, 2025, 6:12 PM
Heaney agreed to a one-year deal with the Pirates on Thursday that includes $5 million with incentives, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Heaney enters 2025 having played the prior two seasons with Texas. For the Rangers, he recorded a 4.22 ERA across 66 games, 59 of which he started in. The southpaw will figure to slot into the backend of Pittsburgh's rotation, but may also find time in the bullpen. With Johan Oviedo coming off of Tommy John surgery, Heaney adds depth to the rotation. |
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Adam Frazier Adam Frazier No restrictions in camp
Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 11:37 AM
Frazier (thumb) took live batting practice against Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller during Wednesday's full-squad workout, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Frazier will begin his second stint in Pittsburgh in 2025 after he signed a one-year, $1.525 million contract with the Pirates in January. He's projected to serve as a utility man for the Pirates, with his playing time likely to be contingent on the health of Pittsburgh's everyday players. During his time with the Royals last season, Frazier produced a career-low .576 OPS and struck out at a career-high 20.1 percent clip over 294 plate appearances. |
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Yerry Rodriguez Yerry Rodriguez Comes down with sore elbow
Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 10:20 AM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Rodriguez is dealing with right elbow discomfort, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Fellow hurler Sean Sullivan is also battling an elbow issue and is considered further along than Rodriguez, although it's not clear exactly how long either pitcher will be sidelined. Rodriguez is in Pirates camp as a non-roster invitee, and the elbow injury could effectively end his chances of making the team. |
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Dauri Moreta Dauri Moreta Unlikely to pitch in spring games
Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 10:20 AM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Moreta (elbow) is unlikely to pitch in any Grapefruit League games, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Moreta is right where the Pirates expected him to be in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last March, with Tomczyk noting that the right-hander has been able to throw side sessions. He'll continue to slowly increase the intensity of his throwing sessions throughout the spring before potentially facing hitters in live batting practice, but any games that Moreta pitches in during camp will likely come on the back fields in a controlled setting. Moreta was placed on the 60-day injured list over the weekend, and while he could be ready to begin a minor-league rehab assignment by late April, he won't be eligible to make his 2025 debut for the Pirates until at least late May. |
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Hunter Stratton Hunter Stratton Starting running progression
Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 10:17 AM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Stratton (knee) is slated to begin a running progression, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Stratton is already throwing off a mound as he returns from a ruptured patella tendon in his left knee he suffered last August, but he'll now test the knee out with some running and soon with pitchers' fielding practice. The reliever has not been ruled out for Opening Day, but he's in camp as a non-roster invitee and is facing an uphill battle to win a roster spot. |
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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Throwing live bullpens
Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 10:14 AM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Oviedo (elbow) is in the "live bullpen" phase of his throwing program and has been cleared to make use of his full repertoire, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Oviedo underwent Tommy John surgery in December 2023 and missed the entire 2024 season, but he should be ready to resume pitching for the Pirates early in the 2025 campaign. Since he hasn't yet been cleared to face hitters at this stage of spring training, Oviedo seems unlikely to appear in any of the Pirates' initial Grapefruit League games, and a brief stint on the injured list to open the season could be in the forecast. During his last healthy season in 2023, Oviedo started 32 games and turned in a 4.31 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 158:83 K:BB in 177.2 innings. |
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Spencer Horwitz Spencer Horwitz Resumes one-handed hitting
Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 10:03 AM
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that Horwitz had sutures removed from his surgically repaired right wrist earlier this week and remains on track to return to game action in 6-to-8 weeks, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: After getting the sutures removed, Horwitz has been cleared to resume swinging the bat with his left hand in addition to fielding groundballs. Before getting surgery, Horwitz looked on track to open the season as the Pirates' everyday first baseman, but his likely absence to begin the campaign could pave the way for Jared Triolo or Billy Cook to make starts at the position until Horwitz is ready to go. |
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Kyle Nicolas Kyle Nicolas Cleared for spring training
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 11:36 AM
Nicolas (side) faced off against Andrew McCutchen during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Nicolas appears to have entered spring training with a clean bill of health after he finished last season on the injured list due to a left side injury. Before being shut down, Nicolas had turned in a 3.95 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 55:31 K:BB while collecting two wins and seven holds over 54.2 innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. He'll likely be ticketed for a middle-relief role to begin the 2025 campaign. |
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Bryan Reynolds Bryan Reynolds Focusing on right field
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 8:21 AM
Reynolds said Tuesday that he's focusing on being a right fielder rather than potentially seeing some time at first base, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Reynolds began working out at first base in September as the Pirates kicked around the idea of using him there at least on a part-time basis. However, even after the injury to Spencer Horwitz (wrist/thumb), it does not sound like Reynolds is being considered as an option to play first base. Fantasy leaguers should not be counting on the 30-year-old gaining dual eligibility. |
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Braxton Ashcraft Braxton Ashcraft Facing hitters in camp
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 10:56 AM
Ashcraft (forearm) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Ashcraft closed last season on Triple-A Indianapolis' 7-day injured list due to a forearm injury, but fortunately for the 25-year-old right-hander -- who previously had Tommy John surgery in 2021 -- he appears to have had a normal offseason and is restriction-free during camp. He'll likely be sent back to Indianapolis to begin the 2025 campaign, but health permitting, Ashcraft should make his MLB debut at some point this summer to join an impressive young Pittsburgh pitching corps that already includes Paul Skenes and Jared Jones and could also feature one of baseball's top pitching prospects in Bubba Chandler. |
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Paul Skenes Paul Skenes Adding to arsenal
Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 7:38 PM
Skenes has worked on a cutter and sinker this offseason, Noah Hiles of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Skenes noted that his cutter is a variation of his slider, while his sinker is a completely new addition. He didn't commit to throwing the latter in game action, though it sounds as if the tweaks were an attempt to help Skenes pitch more efficiently and work deeper into games. Across his 23 big-league starts in 2024, Skenes completed seven innings only four times, and he was purposefully limited by the Pirates across the final month of the season. General manager Ben Cherington stated that he expects all limitations to be taken off his star pitcher this season, so Skenes' efficiency will ultimately determine his workload. |
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Dauri Moreta Dauri Moreta Placed on 60-day IL
Sun, Feb 16, 2025, 5:35 PM
Moreta (elbow) was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Moreta is still recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in March of 2024. The right-hander will now be forced to miss the first two months of the 2025 season while on the 60-day IL. The transaction opened a spot on the 40-man roster for newly-signed outfielder Tommy Pham. |
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Billy Cook Billy Cook Additional path to playing time
Sat, Feb 15, 2025, 10:07 PM
Cook is in contention for playing time at first base with Spencer Horowitz (wrist) sidelined, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Cook was expected to compete for a starting corner outfield spot, but Pittsburgh's addition of Tommy Pham likely ended that possibility. However, Cook will now compete with Jared Triolo, DJ Stewart and Darick Hall for playing time at first base. Cook reached the majors for the first time late in 2024 and showed some intriguing potential with three home runs across 49 plate appearances. However, he also struck out at a 38.8 percent clip, so he'll need to show the ability to make more consistent contact to earn steady playing time. |
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Hunter Stratton Hunter Stratton Still needs to check some boxes
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 1:30 PM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Friday that Stratton (knee) still needs to show he can go through running and pitchers' fielding practice before he can be considered part of the competition for a bullpen spot, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Stratton suffered a ruptured patella tendon in his left knee last August, but his recovery has come along well and he just has a couple boxes left to check. The righty held a 3.58 ERA and 33:7 K:BB across 37.2 frames last season before getting hurt and is in camp as a non-roster invitee. |
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Johan Oviedo Johan Oviedo Completes bullpen session
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 10:49 AM
Oviedo (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Oviedo was sidelined for the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in December of 2023, but he was regularly doing long toss off flat ground in September and has now reached another checkpoint in the recovery process by throwing off a mound. According to MLB.com, Oviedo is being viewed as a "full go" for spring training, but because he's returning from a major injury, the Pirates could bring him along more slowly than their other rotation candidates. The right-hander could build up his pitch count in simulated games on the backfields of camp before he makes his Grapefruit League debut. |
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Henry Davis Henry Davis Healthy for spring
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 9:25 AM
Davis (hand) was spotted taking batting practice Thursday during the Pirates' second workout of spring training, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Analysis: Davis appears to have reported to camp without any restrictions after finishing the 2024 season on the injured list due to left hand inflammation. Even before being shut down with the hand injury, Davis had endured a rough second season at the big-league level, slashing just .144/.242/.212 with a 37.2 percent strikeout rate in 121 plate appearances while allowing Joey Bart to emerge as the team's top backstop. Davis fared much better over his extended playing time at Triple-A Indianapolis (.952 OPS in 253 plate appearances), and since the Pirates are already confident in his defense behind the plate, he'll get another chance this spring to stake his claim to the No. 1 catching gig with the big club. Bart will open the spring as the frontrunner for the job, and Davis will also face competition from Endy Rodriguez, who is healthy again after missing nearly all of the 2024 season while recovering from elbow surgery. |
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Jared Triolo Jared Triolo In mix at first base
Wed, Feb 12, 2025, 10:41 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington mentioned Wednesday that Triolo is a candidate to play first base while Spencer Horwitz (thumb) is out, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Horwitz will miss the next 6-to-8 weeks following surgery last week on his right wrist/thumb. Pittsburgh plans to look internally for Horwitz's replacement and Triolo appears to be next in line on the depth chart at first base. The 27-year-old slashed only .216/.296/.315 with nine homers and eight steals over 125 games last season, but he was the National League's Gold Glove winner as a utility player. |
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DJ Stewart DJ Stewart Will get reps at first base
Wed, Feb 12, 2025, 10:35 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that Stewart will see some action at first base in the wake of the Spencer Horwitz (thumb) injury, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Horwitz is slated to begin the season on the injured list following surgery last week on his right wrist/thumb. Stewart, a non-roster invitee, is primarily an outfielder, but he did start a game at first base last season for the Mets and saw a decent amount of action at the position in the minors over the last two years. Jared Triolo, Billy Cook and Darick Hall are also candidates to play first base while Horwitz is out. |
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Darick Hall Darick Hall Could get look at first base
Wed, Feb 12, 2025, 10:29 AM
Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday that Hall will get additional reps at first base following the injury to Spencer Horwitz (thumb), Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Analysis: Hall was signed to a minor-league contract with a spring training invite back in December. The 29-year-old has a .700 OPS with 10 home runs over 198 career plate appearances at the major-league level but spent all of 2024 at Triple-A Lehigh Valley in the Phillies organization. The Pirates' plan is to fill the void left by Horwitz internally, and while Jared Triolo and Billy Cook are probably the favorites to emerge at first base, Hall now has a fighting chance to make the Opening Day roster. |
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