Dubious Pirates distinction adds new layer of frustration with sputtering offense

The Pittsburgh Pirates are continuing to set new records each season – but unfortunately, not the good kind.

According to baseball historian John Dreker, outfielders Bryan Reynolds (168) and Oneil Cruz (168) are the first pair of Pirates teammates to strike out more than 160 times in the same season. Their combined total of 336 only trails the combo of Reynolds and Cruz (337 total) from last year among Pirates teammates. At this rate, they will almost certainly surpass last season's total.

Reynolds and Cruz were supposed to be the cornerstones of the Pirates’ offense in 2025 – a steady, All-Star caliber veteran and a dynamic power hitter. Instead, they’ve both turned into liabilities, and their struggles illustrate why Pittsburgh can’t realistically build a contender around them.

Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz show why they can't carry Pirates offense with struggles at the plate

Let's start with the strikeout problem. Cruz has always been a high-whiff player, but in 2025 his strikeout rate (31.9%) has ballooned into unplayable territory. Pitchers have fully exposed his inability to adjust, and instead of improving with more reps, the strikeout issue has actually worsened. Even his elite raw power and athleticism can’t offset a sub-.300 OBP.

While not as extreme as Cruz, Reynolds’ swing decisions have regressed as well. His strikeout rate has crept upward to 27.2%, while his walk rate has stagnated at 8.6%. He’s chasing more pitches out of the zone, and the quality of contact has dipped, making him look more like a middle-of-the-order placeholder than a reliable star.

Then, there's the lack of consistency. Cruz is streaky to the extreme. He’ll hit a couple of jaw-dropping homers, then turn around and go 3-for-40 with 20 strikeouts. That volatility keeps him from being a lineup anchor (and has Pirates fans pulling their hair out).

Reynolds was supposed to be the steady bat to balance Cruz’s boom-or-bust nature, but his own inconsistency has instead doubled the problem. He hasn’t shown the ability to carry the offense for any extended stretch in 2025, which is concerning on a number of levels.

The Pirates desperately need offensive stability, but Reynolds is too inconsistent to be the table-setter or run-producer they envisioned, and Cruz is too flawed to be a dependable run generator. With both underperforming, the rest of the lineup (largely comprised of unproven youngsters or stopgaps) has no one to orbit around.

Reynolds and Cruz were supposed to be the foundation of Pittsburgh's offense, but Reynolds has regressed into an average-ish bat while Cruz’s flaws have been magnified to the point of near unplayability. Together, they fail to give the Pirates a stable offensive identity, which is why this team can’t build a lineup around them.