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Updates
2023 Season
Season Preview: The Pirates may not win more often than they lose in 2023, but they should be one of the league’s most entertaining teams. They have added several solid veterans to a lineup that features some good, young talent—including shortstop Oneil Cruz, Mitch Keller, Roansy Contreras, Ji Hwan Bae, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Bryan Reynolds. Among the newcomers is a familiar face, Andrew McCutchen, who won an MVP award in his first go-round in Pittsburgh. Fans in the Steel City can also expect to see a steady stream of rookies from a farm system that is well-stocked with prospects.
2022 Season
Season Recap: The Pirates tied the Reds for the worst record in the division, going 62–100. However, Pittsburgh fans had plenty to keep their hopes up for the future. Shortstop Oneil Cruz made jaw-dropping plays on a weekly basis and pitcher Roansy Contreras was unhittable at times—not bad for a couple of rookies in their first seasons. Bryan Reynolds was once again the team’s most outstanding player, with a career-high 27 home runs. If the Pirates are able to sign him to a long-term contract—as they did with Ke’Bryan Hayes—Pittsburgh will have a solid core of young stars to build around.
Season Preview: Pittsburgh is quietly putting together the pieces of a contending team—maybe not this year, but not too far in the future, either. Fans can’t wait to see what their towering young shortstop, Oneil Cruz can do, and hope for a healthy year from third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, as well as another All-Star season from outfielder Bryan Reynolds. The pitching staff has plenty of untapped talent with Mitch Keller, J.T. Brubaker, Zach Thompson, and David Bednar. With the Reds and Cubs weaker in 2022, a winning record is not totally out of the question for the Bucs.
2021 Season
Season Recap: The Pirates lost 100 games for the first time since 2010, but 2021 was not a “lost” season. Bryan Reynolds turned into one of the best all-around players in the NL, rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes played well after coming back from a hand injury, and David Bednar showed he could be a top relief pitcher. With lots of talent in the minors, the Pirates could be ready to move up in the standings in 2022 and 2023.
August 14, 2021: Kevin Newman banged four doubles in a game against the Brewers to tie a big-league record shared by a number of players, including Pittsburgh Hall of Famer Paul Waner.
July 28, 2021: Rookie infielder Rodolfo Castro hit two home runs against the Brewers. He became the first player in history whose first 5 big-league hits were all home runs.
Season Preview: The Pirates are expecting 2021 to be a rebuilding year. They will be counting Ke’Bryan Hayes and Mitch Keller to turn in All-Star seasons, and for minor-league prospects to continue their march toward the majors. If you had to pick one team to lose 100 games, unfortunately it would be the Pirates.
2020 Season
Season Recap: The Prates were the only team in the NL Central that didn’t make the playoffs. Against that kind of competition, Pittsburgh was lucky to win as many games as it did. Among the few bright spots was the performance of rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes, who was called up at mid-season and batted .376. Hayes was named NL Rookie of the Month for September.
Season Preview: The Pirates have been putting together some good players in the minors, and this may be the year many of them step forward to show their stuff in the big leagues. In the meantime, Pittsburgh fans will be rooting for young leaders Josh Bell, Bryan Reynolds, Gregory Polanco and Colin Moran to provide some fireworks at home plate.
2019 Season
Season Recap: Pittsburgh fans were hoping the team would contend for a Wild Card spot, but they finished dead last in the NL Central with 69 wins. Young stars Josh Bell, Bryan Reynolds, and Kevin Newman put together breakthrough seasons on offense, but every pitcher on the staff seemed to go into a yearlong slump, ruining the Pirates’ chances.
Season Preview: Pittsburgh was quiet in the off-season, but has enough talent to win 90 games or more if everyone plays the way they can. The Pirates will be looking for big years from Starling Marte, Josh Bell, and Chris Archer—and hope outfielder Gregory Polanco is 100 percent healthy for the second half.
2018 Season
Season Recap: A power outage doomed the Pirates to a so-so 82-win season. Although eight players hit 10 or more homers, none hit as many as 25. Pittsburgh was still in the mix for a Wild Card in the late summer, and traded for pitching ace Chris Archer. He joined a staff that included young guns Jameson Taillon and Trever Williams, who pitched well down the stretch. But the Bucs could not put together the big winning streak they needed.
Season Preview: The Pirates said goodbye to Gerritt Cole and Andrew McCutchen after the 2017 season, and handed the future of the club to a group of youngsters that includes Gregory Polanco, Colin Moran, Josh Bell, and Trevor Williams. The roster has lots of quality players—including Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson—but do they have enough talent to overtake their division rivals?
2017 Season
Season Recap: The Pirates had plenty of talent in 2017, but could not get everyone hot at the same time. The result was a disappointing 75-win season. Pittsburgh’s leading hitters were Josh Bell and Andrew McCutchen. Its top pitchers—including Gerrit Cole, Ivan Nova, and Jameson Taillon—were up and down all year long.
August 23, 2017: Josh Harrison broke up a no-hitter by Rich Hill of the Dodgers with a home run in the bottom of the 10th inning. It was the first time in history a player broke up a no-hitter in extra innings with a walk-off home run.
May 1, 2017: Ivan Nova was named NL Pitcher of the Month for April. He tossed two complete games during the month, including a shutout.
2016 Season
November 1, 2016: Despite a roster full of young stars, the Pirates were no better than a .500 team all season. The outfield of Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco fell far short of expectations, and no starting pitcher won as many as 10 games. Among the few bright spots were the play of rookies Josh Bell and Jameson Taillon, who will be counted upon for big years in 2017.
October 5, 2016: The Pirates put a quality team on the field every day, but it didn’t always show and the team finished with more losses than wins. Among the bright spots were young stars Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte, Josh Bell, Jameson Taillon, and Tyler Glasnow.
2015 Season
October 14, 2015: The Pirates enjoyed their best season in a generation, with 98 wins. Outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte were the top hitters, along with shortstop Jung Ho Kang, a rookie from South Korea. Gerrit Cole won 19 games and Mark Melancon saved 51 to lead the NL. Pittsburgh’s season ended with a loss to the Cubs in the Wild Card game.
April 5, 2015: Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte, and Gregory Polanco make up the league’s most exciting outfield, while Josh Harrison, Neil Walker, and Pedro Alvarez anchor a talented infield. If Gerrit Cole and the other starters can keep games close, the Pirates have a great chance to win the NL Central.
2014 Season
October 30, 2014: Pittsburgh had its second winning season in a row and snagged a Wild Card spot once again. Reigning MVP Andrew McCutchen had another great year, as did Neil Walker, Starling Marte and utilityman Josh Harrison. Mark Melancon and Tony Watson gave the team a dependable bullpen, while Edinson Volquez was the team’s top starting pitcher. The Pirates faced the Giants in the Wild Card game, and were shut out by Madison Bumgarner, who went on to have a historic postseason.
September 1, 2014: Josh Harrison was named NL Player of the Month for August. He began the season as a little-used bench player, and finished the year as runner-up in the batting race.
March 31, 2014: The team’s amazing run to the playoffs in 2013 will continue in 2014 if players like Pedro Alvarez, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen continue to improve. Pittsburgh’s pitching was better than anyone expected last year; this year the Pirates need the bullpen to be even better because the starters may not be as strong.
2013 Season
November 14, 2013: Andrew McCutchen was named NL Most Valuable player for 2013. He had more than 20 steals and 20 homers, and batter over .300 for the Pirates, who finished with a winning record for the first time since 1992.
November 13, 2013: Francisaco Liriano was named NL Comeback Player of the Year for 2013. One year after going 6–12 for the Twins and White Sox, he won 16 games for the Pirates with 163 strikeouts and a 3.02 ERA.
October 1, 2013: The Pirates finally put it all together and made it to the playoffs after more than 20 years. Led by MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen and NL home run co-leader Pedro Alvarez, the team finished in second in the NL Central They defeated the Reds in the Wild Card game before losing to the Cardinals 3 games to 2 in the NLDS. Alvarez became the first player to knock in a run in each of his first six postseason games.
September 29, 2013: Pedro Alvarez finished the year tied with Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks for the NL home run crown, with 36. Alvarez was the fourth Pirate to win or share the championship (see the League Leaders list) and the first since Willie Stargell exactly 40 years ago.
September 3, 2013: The Pirates won their 81st game of the season, which ended a 20-year streak of losing seasons.
March 30, 2013: With exciting hitters like Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Neil Walker, and Starling Marte in the lineup, Pittsburgh can take a big step forward in 2013. They will need help from their pitchers, however, and that means newcomer Russell Martin will have to be a catcher and a teacher as the season wears on.
2012 Season
October 3, 2012: The Pirates had a losing record for the 20th year in a row, but the team looks ready to make a move in the NL Central. They were in first place in mid-July, but went into a slump in the second half. Andrew McCutchen led the way, with an All-Star season. He led the NL with 194 hits.
April, 2012: There are some interesting new faces in the mix for the Pirates in 2012. Erik Bedard, Casey McGehee, Clint Barmes, and Rod Barajas bring experience to one of baseball’s youngest teams.
More Go-To Guys
More Fun Facts
League Leaders
Pirates in the World Series
YEAR | OPPONENT | RESULT |
---|---|---|
1903 | Boston Americans | Lost 5–3 |
1909 | Detroit Tigers | Won 4–3 |
1925 | Washington Senators | Won 4–3 |
1927 | New York Yankees | Lost 4–0 |
1960 | New York Yankees | Won 4–3 |
1971 | Baltimore Orioles | Won 4–3 |
1979 | Baltimore Orioles | Won 4–3 |