Pittsburgh Pirates Have the Building Blocks For a Strong Starting Rotation

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(Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /

With some young, talented arms having already found success at the major league level, the Pittsburgh Pirates have the foundation in place to have a strong starting rotation in 2023

2023 will be Ben Cherington’s fourth season as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. During his tenure, the Pirates have yet to post a winning record. Unfortunately, the Pirates have been one of the worst organizations in baseball in terms of win/loss record under Cherington’s leadership.

A big reason for the Pirate struggles with Cherignton as GM has been the starting rotation. In each of the Cherington seasons the Pirate starting rotation has been poor. Some of that is due to what Cherington inherited, while soem of it is due to what he has assembled.

Well, in 2023 this could begin to change for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Top pitching prospects Mike Burrows and Quinn Priester are both in line to graduate and reach the majors in 2023. This should give the Pirate starting rotation a big summertime boost.

Outside of these two, the Pittsburgh Pirates appear to have building blocks in place to have a strong starting rotation in 2023. One that could be a a good rotation before Burrows and Priester join the rotation, and one that should easily be the best of the Cherington Era.

PITTSBURGH, PA – AUGUST 23: Roansy Contreras #59 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on during the game against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on August 23, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Budding ace Roansy Contreras

When the Pittsburgh Pirates traded Jameson Taillon to the New York Yankees following the 2020 season the best prospect they received in return was Roansy Contreras. Since then, Contreras has developed into one of the best pitching prospects in all of baseball.

Contreras made one MLB start in 2021 before getting his first extended look in 2022. While he had some ups and downs, Contreras, who is just 23-years-old, looked like a budding ace for much of the 2022 season.

In 21 outings with the Pirates, 18 of which were starts, Contreras pitched 95 innings. Contreras posted a 3.79 ERA, 4.38 FIP, 1.23 HR/9, he walked 9.6% of batters faced, and struck batters out at a 21.1% clip.

Contreras flashed a power fastball and absolutely wicked, wipeout slider during his 2022 season as he went on to be worth a 1.2 WAR. There were times it was clear that Contreras still needs to improve in terms of how he attacks hitters and pitch selection, but the stuff to be a top of the rotation arm is there. If he can take another step forward in 2023, then the Pirates may have a true ace on their hands.

Oct 3, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller (23) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

At last… the emergence of Mitch Keller

When it comes to the limited positives for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2022 season the biggest may have been Mitch Keller. The former consensus top 50 prospect had struggled throughout his MLB career, but finally turned a corner in 2022.

Keller pitched 159 innings in 31 appearances, 29 of which were starts. All of these were new career highs. Keller also posted a career best 3.91 ERA. His 8.7% walk rate, 20.1% strikeout rate, and 3.88 FIP were all his best since 2019, and he was worth a career best 2.0 WAR.

Even the eye test would tell you Keller had the best season of his career and turned a corner. Unlike in past years, when Keller got into trouble on the mound he often times pitched out of it instead of wilting.

Keller may never be the no. 1 top of the rotation starting pitcher many once hoped he would be, but he appears to be developing into a very solid middle of the rotation starting pitcher. Following a brief bullpen stint, Keller posted a 3.22 ERA, 3.69 FIP, 8.8% walk rate and a 20.7% strikeout rate across his final 22 starts. If Keller can pitch this way for a full season worth of starts in 2023, then the Pirate rotation as a hole should take a big step forward in 2023.

Oct 5, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Johan Oviedo (62) delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

Two young arms burst onto the scene in September

During the month of September two young, talented, electric arms turned heads as members of the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation. They were righties Johan Oviedo and Luis Ortiz. Looking ahead to 2023, both could play huge roles for the Bucs.

Oviedo was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the José Quintana trade. In the final month of the season Oviedo made seven starts, posting a 3.23 ERA and a 3.47 FIP in 30.2 innings pitched. Oviedo had just one poor outing, allowing 4 runs in 1.2 innings pitched against the Mets, and posted a 20.9% strikeout rate. Oviedo should open the 2023 season in the Pirate starting rotation and could have a breakout season.

As for Ortiz, he started the season with Double-A Altoona and reached Triple-A Indianapolis before being promoted to the majors. Ortiz made four starts for the Pittsburgh Pirates in September, posting a 4.50 ERA in 16 innings pitched.

Ortiz’s final start of the season saw him allow 6 runs while failing to get out of the 1st inning. Outside of this start, Ortiz was extremely impressive. He had a 14.5% walk rate, most of which was due to that final start, but struck out 24.6% of batters faced.

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Ortiz will likely start the 2023 season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. However, if he continues to show plus stuff and pitch well with the Indians, then he should join the Pirate starting rotation on a permanent basis sooner rather than later in the 2023 season.

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