2 Pirates who've played their way onto Opening Day roster, 2 who've played their way off

The Pittsburgh Pirates open the 2025 season against the Miami Marlins in less than two weeks, and a handful of Opening Day roster spots are still up for grabs.

Which of the Pirates' top prospects could crack the roster? Who will replace the injured Spencer Horwitz at first base? The answers to these and other questions are beginning to become more clear based on various players' performances in spring training.

Here are some Pirates who have played their way onto the Opening Day roster this spring, as well as some who have played their way off of it.

Pirates who've played their way onto Pittsburgh's Opening Day roster

Henry Davis

Joey Bart is a lock to be the Pirates' starting catcher, but there's a three-way battle between Jason Delay, Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez for the backup role. Davis already had the inside track as a former No. 1 overall draft pick, and he's hit well enough in camp to ensure that the role is as good as his.

Davis has hit .241 with two home runs in Grapefruit League play, and he's hitting the ball hard, which could be an indication that his new swing is working for him. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Davis will open the 2025 campaign backing up Bart at the big league level.

DJ Stewart

Of all the non-roster invitees at Pirates camp, DJ Stewart likely has the best chance of making the Opening Day roster. Needless to say, the injury to Horwitz helped Stewart's chances exponentially, as the Pirates don't have a clear option to replace him at first base. In his first seven appearances at first this spring, Stewart batted .333 with a home run and five RBI; he's now at a still impressive .878 OPS.

The fact that Stewart can also play outfield increases his chances of breaking camp with the Pirates. Even if Horwitz is only sidelined for a brief period of time, Stewart can give Pittsburgh some additional outfield depth once he returns.

Pirates who've played their way off of Pittsburgh's Opening Day roster

Joshua Palacios

With the offseason additions of Tommy Pham and Adam Frazier, Joshua Palacios' presence on the Pirates' roster becomes redundant. A fourth outfielder with average-at-best defensive ability, he has also hit just .235 in camp with an OPS of .551 (in, tellingly, just 17 at-bats, proving the Pirates didn't need to learn much more about him to make their decision).

Palacios is out of minor league options, so he would have to pass through waivers before the Pirates could assign him to Triple-A Indianapolis; but that's a risk the club should feel more than comfortable taking. If he clears, he can remain in the organization as a depth option; if he doesn't, it won't be a major loss for Pittsburgh.

Nick Yorke

The Pirates' No. 5 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, Nick Yorke raked in Triple-A last year after the Pirates acquired him in a trade from the Boston Red Sox. His bat cooled off a bit during his brief stint in the big leagues last September, but there was still plenty of reason for optimism that he could be an impact player in Pittsburgh as soon as 2025.

However, Yorke is essentially battling with Jack Suwinski and Billy Cook for a final spot on the Pirates' bench, and his .192 batting average this spring hasn't done much to help his chances – especially considering Suwinski can hit for power and Cook is more skilled defensively. Yorke will likely open the season in Indianapolis and spend some more time developing before he earns his next call-up.

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