With MLB Opening Day today, the Pittsburgh Pirates are starting off their season, but fans should not get their hopes up and instead should prepare for another disappointing season. 

Even with new free-agent additions, such as outfielder Andrew McCutchen, first baseman Carlos Santana, designated hitter Ji-Man Choi, catcher Austin Hedges, and starting pitchers Rich Hill and Vince Velasquez, the Pirates do not have a lineup that can compare to division rivals such as the St. Louis Cardinals or the Milwaukee Brewers. 

Last season, the Pirates ranked as the 29th worst-hitting team in the MLB, and players like McCucthen, Choi, Santana, and Hedges will most likely not add much to an already sub-par lineup.

However, the team has some bright young spots, such as star outfielder Bryan Reynolds, star third-baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, and rising star shortstop Oneil Cruz. 

Reynolds, 28, has been arguably the best hitter for the Bucs over the past two seasons, being able to hit for power and average while being exceptional in the outfield. Reynolds is primed for an extension this season as the young team continues to build for the future.

Hayes, 26, signed an eight-year extension with the Pirates in 2022 and is one of the best defensive third basemen in the MLB. He was an average hitter for his first two seasons in the MLB, but will hopefully make improvements in 2023 and become the Pirates’ third baseman for many years to come. 

Cruz, 24, is an electric shortstop and can hit for incredible power while also having astounding speed. However, Cruz has had trouble hitting offspeed pitches throughout his MLB time, so fans can only hope that he can adjust during games and be the shortstop the Pirates have been needing for years. 

Fans have to hope that other young players on the roster can step up and fill the gaps that the team needs to take a step up and be at least an average-hitting team. 

Additionally, the Pirates do not have a pitching staff capable of shutting down elite hitters and have yet to sign or be able to develop an elite pitcher since Gerrit Cole. Last year, the Pirates’ starting pitching staff had an average ERA of 4.31, ranking as the 26th-worst pitching staff in the MLB. 

Nonetheless, the Pirates still have bright spots on their pitching staff, such as J.T. Brubaker, Mitch Keller, and Roansy Contreras. 

Keller, who is starting on Opening Day, drastically improved from his rookie year and stepped up in 2022 to look like the pitcher the Pirates were looking for when he was drafted as a second-round pick in 2014.

Brubaker was a major bright spot on the team in 2022 but was injured in spring training and is likely out for the entire 2023 season. Contreras, who was a rookie in 2022 and had a 3.79 ERA with 90 strikeouts, is likely to improve in 2023 and possibly become the ace the Bucs have been searching for. 

In the near future, such as 2024, several top pitching prospects, such as Quinn Priester, could come up for AAA and have the team ready to make a playoff run by 2025. 

Overall, the Pirates are not likely to make any splashes in the 2023 playoff race but could improve to become a .500 team in 2023 if young players can rise to the occasion and become the players the Pirates have hoped they would become.