3 players you may have forgotten were on the Pirates' 2024 Opening Day roster

In retrospect, the Pirates’ 2024 Opening Day roster was constructed out of desperation. Aside from Hunter Stratton, whose emotional selection drew headlines, the players selected fell into two categories: the obvious and the “warm body.” Luckily throughout the season, the Pirates made deals to address weak points, sending a few players back into oblivion.

Considering Alika Williams spent 46 games in the Majors in 2023, it really shouldn’t have been that much of a surprise that he made the cut in 2024. Perhaps the surprise really should have been termed, “Why didn’t Nick Gonzales or Liover Peguero challenge for this spot?” Both prospects had been dubbed the second baseman of the future, and Peguero was Double-A Altoona’s MVP in 2023. Unfortunately, Peguero was still a bit unseasoned, and Gonzales hadn’t quite figured out big-league pitching, so Williams landed in the infield bench role.

The Pirates’ 2024 Opening Day roster featured a number of mainstays, but also some shockers.

Over his 37 games with the squad, Williams provided adequate defense, but his lack of production with the bat squandered his chances at sticking for the long-term. Not only did he fall off the big-league roster, but he was DFA’d and outrighted to Triple-A this February. Peguero and Gonzales are still on the rise, and Termarr Johnson isn’t too far behind. It seems Williams has gone from Opening Day roster to trade chip in less than a year.

Similarly, Jason Delay could soon be on the move. The catcher found himself on last year's Opening Day roster in part due to Endy Rodriguez’s season-ending injury and Henry Davis’ iffy track record. Yasmani Grandal also could have been an option, but his plantar fasciitis delayed his Pirates debut until May. 

This series of unfortunate events landed Delay with the big-league club to open the season. Delay’s time with the Bucs was short-lived. He played just one game before being sent back to Triple-A. In June, he saw another spell with Pittsburgh, catching six games before once again returning to Indianapolis.

In 2025, Delay seems completely out of the picture. Joey Bart, who was a huge surprise in 2024, should see some time, and Rodriguez could force himself into the catching conversation once he gets a few more games under his belt. It only seems a matter of time before Delay gets squeezed out of the organization.

While Williams and Delay had little impact during their early-season experience with the Pirates, Jose Hernandez made a huge difference in his short stay. Hernandez, a former Rule 5 Draft pick, snuck his way onto the roster when Roansy Contreras went on paternity leave, and he immediately found himself in a high-leverage situation. With a scoreless inning of relief on Opening Day, Hernandez notched his first save.

Hernandez began 2024 with four straight scoreless outings, recording a win and a hold in addition to the save. However, the return of more prominent relief options and Hernandez’s own wildness – he walked four over his final 1 ⅓ innings – forced the lefty back to the minors. The Pirates later traded him to the Dodgers.

While none of these players are likely to figure into this year’s Opening Day roster, all three are a reminder that anyone can make an impact in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for this year’s unlikely inclusions.