Rum Bunter’s 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates Staff Preview: Jack

Record Prediction

This team is not going to compete for a playoff spot (unless between the time of writing and the first pitch of the season the playoffs are expanded). However, there will be plenty to watch in Pittsburgh this summer. Although, it will just be the Pittsburgh Pirates and not the Toronto Blue Jays at PNC Park, so not as much baseball as there could have been.

The team has a lot of young talent to pay attention too.  While the Pittsburgh Pirates still have a lot of holes to keep them from competing, 2020 should represent a chance for a lot of young players.  Josh Bell, Kevin Newman, Bryan Reynolds, and Mitch Keller are all under 27 years of age and figure to play a part in this team’s future. Furthermore, guys like Cole Tucker and Phillip Evans are both young players who are getting opportunities to stick.

It will be a crucial sixty games for Ben Cherington to evaluate the team and decide in what direction he wants to take the franchise. A new coaching staff will implement its strategy, with Oscar Marin working to get more out of his pitching staff. Ke’Bryan Hayes will likely make his MLB debut. Josh Bell will probably hit the river on the fly. Most importantly, baseball is back.

Final Record Prediction for the 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates: 24-36