If you’re reading this article and expect me to tell you that the Pirates are going to surprise the world and win it all, you’re not going to see any of that here. Is it impossible? No, but it’s not very likely. The Pirates are rebuilding and already started acquiring young prospects for their veterans. You can expect that to keep happening. So why should anyone follow the Pirates this year?
For me, this an exciting time. Rebuilds are fascinating to me. Stripping everything down and starting over is a process. What Ben Cherington has done since his hiring is absolutely the right call. The Pirates development plan was clearly not working and the depth of the talent had gotten thin. Cherington brought a fresh outlook and needed to boost the system. Basically, it’s ok to lose now if the Bucs have the talent pool to be successful in the future. Cherington isn’t about treading water in the deep end of mediocrity. He recognizes that the Pirates aren’t a player here and a player there from contending. He knows that there are more holes than that and that there will be holes to fill after them. He needs fillers.
If they’re not going to be good, why care? I get that mindset. A lot of the fans have that mindset. What makes the Pirates worth following is the potential. There is huge wave of it on the horizon. Prospects like Oneil Cruz, Cody Bolton, and Travis Swaggerty may show up this year or next. Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero, Quinn Priester, and more are a year or so behind them. Being not great now is also allowing them to get more talent with higher draft picks. But what about what is on the field right now?
The Pirates aren’t talentless at the top level. Kevin Newman and Bryan Reynolds are looking to bounce back from down 2020 seasons. Gregory Polanco has to be better than last year. Cole Tucker is looking to get some significant playing time to showcase his skills. Mitch Keller, Steven Brault, and Chad Kuhl are striving to build on some promising results from 2020. Last, but not least, there’s Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Hayes could be the most fun to watch. Hayes hit .376 in his 85 at bat debut in 2020. Defensively, he’s already one of the better third basemen in the league. If he can even come remotely close to what he showed last year, he is going to be exciting to follow.
It is not all doom and gloom. There is light at the end of the tunnel. The key is patience and to appreciate the process. I know that’s not easy for everyone. If you hold on and watch these guys now, you’ll appreciate what happens later so much more when there is a good possibility of a winner.
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