Pittsburgh Pirates: Roster Projection Entering December

Sep 25, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) circles the bases on a solo home run the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) circles the bases on a solo home run the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 03: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates after his walk-off walk during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on October 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won the game 3-2. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 03: Oneil Cruz #15 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates after his walk-off walk during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on October 3, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won the game 3-2. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Position Players

This is another group that will likely see another addition or two between now and Opening Day. For the most part, things are pretty set in stone. Ke’Bryan Hayes will be at third base, Oneil Cruz shortstop, Bryan Reynolds will be in center field, and Jack Suwisnki will man a corner outfield spot.

The aforementioned duo of Santana and Choi will be at first base/designated hitter. Miguel Andújar will start at one of these two positions against left-handed pitching. Rodolfo Castro is likely to be at second base.

All of that said, the Pittsburgh Pirates still need ot figure out the catcher position. If nothing else, they need to find someone to play behind the dish until Endy Rodriguez and/or Henry Davis are MLB ready at some point in 2023. They could use a right-handed hitting outfielder, and seeing an addition in the form of a utility bench player would not be a surprise either. But depending on how the rest of the offseason shakes out, Ji Hwan Bae could be the super utility man.

With who is currently on the 40-man roster, this would be the projected Opening Day position player group for the Pirates.

C – Endy Rodriguez, Ali Sanchez
1B – Carlos Santana
2B – Rodolfo Castro
SS – Oneil Cruz
3B – Ke’Bryan Hayes
LF – Ji Hwan Bae
CF – Bryan Reynolds
RF – Jack Suwinski
DH – Ji-Man Choi
1B/LF/DH – Miguel Andújar
INF/OF – Tucupita Marcano
INF – Diego Castillo

It should be noted that Rodriguez is only projected with this group due to being one of only two catchers currently on the Pirate 40-man roster. The odds of Rodriguez actually being on the Opening Day roster are pretty close to zero.