3 Pirates who exceeded expectations during the 2024 season

There are a lot of ways to take in the 2024 season the Pirates just polished off, and most of those ways are pretty upsetting. Still, fans were left with a few emergent positives out of the rubble.

Pittsburgh's roster featured multiple players who arrived with a low bar, but managed to significantly exceed those negative expectations, solidifying them in key roles for 2025 (and hopefully beyond).

These three Pirates exceeded expectations in 2024, solidifying their roles on the team in 2025.

Joey Bart

After Jason Delay got injured, the Pirates immediately acquired Bart from San Fransisco. Bart put together four below-average seasons with the Giants, making it look like he was just a bridge acquisition that would eat up innings until Yasmani Grandal returned from the injured list. That is not the result fans received from the former top prospect.

Instead, Bart belted 13 home runs and 11 doubles to produce a slugging percentage of .462. That paired with an on-base percentage of .337 to make a solid OPS of .799. Additionally, he had a wRC+ of 121 and batted .265. This was all in 80 games, and he finished with an fWAR of 1.3.

His offensive surge was unexpected from all angles, but it turned into one of the biggest positive surprises from the Pirates in 2024. He will be relied upon heavily behind the plate next season after exceeding all expectations.

Bailey Falter

After the Pirates acquired Bailey Falter from the Phillies for Rodolfo Castro, who was already struggling in 2023, there was not much hope for him to be anything of substance down the road. In fact, he finished that season with a 5.36 earned run average and a WHIP of 1.41. Things only went further downhill when he arrived at spring training and posted an earned run average of 7.88, but still made the Opening Day rotation out of necessity (that "necessity" being "keeping Paul Skenes down on the farm, we guess").

After allowing five runs in his first start to the Marlins, Falter locked in and had a solid season, emerging as a solid back-of-the-rotation option. He finished 2024 delivering an earned run average of 4.43 with an FIP of 4.30 across 142.1 innings. Opponents batted .254 against him, and he walked batters at a 7.6% clip to generate a WHIP of 1.29.

Falter didn't seem likely to become a key cog prior to the 2024 season, but he exceeded all expectations and put a lot of value to his name. Falter is now the only left-hander in the Pirates rotation and will be relied upon heavily in 2025.

Dennis Santana

The Pirates made a waiver claim in the middle of the season to get Dennis Santana, an arm that was designated for assignment by the Yankees after producing an earned run average above six. He was an unwanted waiver claim, but after 44.1 innings in Pittsburgh, he earned a high-leverage role with the team.

In his "prove it" opportunity with the Pirates, Santana posted a 2.44 earned run average and identical FIP while striking out 50 batters. Opponents batted .190 against him and he walked hitters at a 6.4% clip, building up a WHIP of 0.92.

There was not much optimism for Santana when he was first picked up, but he proved everyone wrong and will be relied upon heavily in 2025 after reviving his career.

These three all exceeded expectations in 2024, emerging as important pieces to the team in 2025. They all were pleasant surprises to the Pirates after being doubted by everyone.