Pittsburgh Pirates: Projecting a Potential 2023 Starting Rotation

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 04: Joe Musgrove #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game at Target Field on August 4, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Pittsburgh Pirates farm system is quickly becoming one of the deepest in baseball. In terms of pitching, they have a lot of future options. So what could that starting five look like in a couple of years?

Any team that looks to compete usually has a strong starting five. The Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2013 to 2015 had some really strong rotations.

In 2013, Francisco Liriano, Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett, along with solid seasons from Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke led the Pittsburgh Pirates to the playoffs in the first time in 20 years. The same trio, plus J.A. Happ and Morton again, also helped the team make the playoffs again two years later. In 2014, the Pirates’ rotation might have been one of the more underrated parts of their game that year with unsung heroes like Vance Worley, and Edinson Volquez leading the way.

In a few years, the Bucs will probably be back in competition. Ben Cherington has built up a farm system that, according to FanGraphs, currently ranks 6th in baseball, but started the year at the 5th spot.

The team has a handful of starting pitching prospects who could be part of that starting five. Recently, I went over what the line-up could look like in 2023, but what could the rotation look like in the same year?

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