5 players that should be on the Pirates’ major league roster by the end of May

The Pittsburgh Pirates need to start making some roster changes. There are plenty of areas they could improve upon simply by promoting minor leaguers who are doing well toreplace some players who are greatly struggling. We are now in late April, with just about a week left in the month. The Pirates should set a goal of having these five players at least make their season debut, if not take over a roster spot for some time, in the major leagues before the end of May.

Honorable mention to Bubba Chandler, but since he is an obvious answer to the question of who should be in MLB in May and has been covered numerous times, he falls out of the top five.

5 players who belong on Pirates' MLB roster before the end of May

Hunter Stratton

Had it not been for Hunter Stratton still recovering from a torn patella tendon, he likely would have opened the year in the Pirates’ bullpen. The right-hander got his first extended look in the majors in 2024, posting a 3.58 ERA, 3.25 FIP, and 1.17 WHIP in 37.2 innings of work. Not only were Stratton’s bottom-line results good, but he backed it up with some decent peripherals, including a 4.4% walk rate, 6.1% barrel rate, and 0.72 HR/9.

Stratton was originally projected to miss upwards of ten months following his injury. However, the reliable righty has had a miraculously quick recovery. By late February, he was already throwing off the mound, and was even able to appear in one spring training contest, tossing one inning. Unfortunately, that would be the only in-game playing time Stratton received before the regular season began.

Stratton still needed to get fully ramped up and was sent to Triple-A to open the year. He’s tossed nine innings, and while he has allowed seven earned runs, five of those runs came in just one of his appearances so far. He also has seven strikeouts and three walks.

However, the results are far from being the most important thing in a situation like this. Stratton’s velocity is back where it was last year before his knee gave out on him. The Pirates have plenty of spots to find Stratton playing time. Kyle Nicolas hasn’t gotten off to a great start and has options remaining. Chase Shugart is also a prime candidate to get optioned to Triple-A once the Pirates feel Stratton is fully ramped up. Given that Stratton has already pitched nine innings (plus one in spring training), his 2025 debut is likely just around the corner.