3 Pirates spring training non-roster invitees who could make Opening Day bullpen

Last season, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen was a disappointing group, but they’ll look to right the ship in 2025 and return to the once-formidable group that entered last season. David Bednar, Colin Holderman, Carmen Mlodzinski, Caleb Ferguson, Dennis Santana, Tim Mayza, and Kyle Nicolas look to be the core of the pen. 

In addition to those familiar faces and prominent newcomers, the Pirates will enter spring training with some interesting bullpen arms on their list of non-roster invitees. Many of these wild cards definitely have a chance of making the Pirates’ Opening Day roster and filling out the rest of their bullpen. These three, however, likely have the best chance of heading north with the team at the end of spring training. 

3 Pirates non-roster invitees with best chance of making MLB bullpen after spring training

Hunter Stratton

Hunter Stratton represented one of the few bright spots in a very disappointing Pirates bullpen in 2024. In his rookie campaign, Stratton tossed a total of 37.2 innings, working to a 3.58 ERA, 3.25 FIP, and 1.17 WHIP. While Stratton had a subpar 20.7% K%, he only allowed 4.4% of his opponents to reach via free pass. Neither home runs, nor hard contact, were much of an issue for Stratton, either; the righty held opponents to an 0.72 HR/9 rate, 87.3 MPH exit velocity, and 6.1% barrel rate.

Stratton threw three pitches at least 25% of the time last year. His low-90s cutter was his primary pitch, and he also mixed in a mid-90s four-seamer and mid-80s slider. His slider was nearly untouchable, with a 43.5% whiff rate and .093 opponent xwOBA, which was the lowest of any pitch type by any pitcher in 2024 (min. 25 plate appearances). All three of his offerings held batters to an above-average exit velocity as well. Stuff+ put Stratton at a well above-average 109 mark.

However, a large portion of Stratton’s 2025 season originally looked like it could be in danger. The right-hander suffered a ruptured patella tendon in late August, with a 7-to-10 month ETA for a full recovery. The Pirates non-tendered Stratton at the start of the offseason, but quickly re-signed him to a minor-league contract, and recent reports show that he may be ahead of schedule.

Had Stratton not had such a severe knee injury, the Pirates likely wouldn’t have non-tendered him in the first place. Regardless, after his rookie year, Stratton has an inside chance to make the Pirates’ bullpen out of spring training if he is back at 100%. He was one of the Pirates’ more reliable arms in a bullpen that was mostly unreliable in 2024.

Ryan Borucki

Ryan Borucki entered the 2024 season looking to play a key role in the Pirates’ bullpen. Unfortunately, like a good portion of the Bucs’ bullpen, his season was a huge letdown. After what looked like a breakout 2023 season, Borucki threw just 11 innings in 2024. The southpaw missed a large chunk of playing time due to a nerve injury. 

Although ‘24 was mostly a lost season for him, the ex-starter can still rely on his outstanding showing with the Bucs in 2023. In 40.1 innings pitched, Borucki pitched to a 2.45 ERA, 3.50 FIP, and 0.74 WHIP. His 21.7% K% was about league average, but he had a solid 0.89 HR/9 rate. Borucki rarely allowed hard contact, with an 85.7 MPH exit velocity and 6.3% barrel percentage, but the most impressive part of his season was his 2.6% walk rate.

Borucki also ended the year on a very high note, tossing 16 straight scoreless frames and allowing just a single free pass. Borucki had a .206 batting average on balls in play, but with how rarely he allowed hard contact with an above-average 46.8% ground ball percentage and lowly 14.7% line drive rate, it’s no wonder why batters had so few batted balls sneak through for hits. The Pirates’ defense was also solid in 2023, with +3 defensive runs saved and +1 out above average, which bolstered Borucki's case.

Borucki is in a similar boat to Stratton. Had it not been for an injury-riddled season, he would have signed a Major League contract instead. The Pirates already have three lefty relievers on the 40-man roster, but Borucki could be the best among them if he is healthy. So long as he is 100%, he also has an inside shot of making the Bucs’ Opening Day roster. 

Eddy Yean

Eddy Yean was the headliner in the Josh Bell trade. At the time, Yean was a promising teenage prospect who did well in the lower levels of the Washington Nationals’ system. Although Yean is no longer the top prospect he once was when the Pirates acquired him, he is coming off a solid season in 2024, where he pitched solely out of the bullpen.

Yean pitched a total of 75 innings between Double-A Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis, working to a 3.36 ERA, 3.70 FIP, and 1.32 WHIP. Yean only struck out 21.2% of batters faced, but handed out a free pass to just 6.8% of his opponents. He also allowed a half-dozen home runs, resulting in a quality 0.72 HR/9 rate. 

Yean primarily relies on a mid-90s four-seam fastball. Yean’s primary breaking pitch is a low-80s slider, and he will mix in a mid-80s changeup with above-average arm-side run. Although Yean has always shown some decent stuff, he has also always struggled to harness it. In the previous two seasons heading into 2024, Yean had a walk rate over 10%, but cut down on free passes by a significant amount during last season.

Yean is one of the younger pitchers on the Pirates’ list of non-roster invitees. He does not turn 24 until late June. 2024 represented his most promising season since his days in the low levels of the minor leagues. Yean could definitely find himself on the back end of the Pirates’ bullpen depth chart when the team wraps spring training up if he performs well.