5 Pittsburgh Pirates players under pressure entering the 2024 season

No. 1 - Henry Davis

Davis is coming into this year with the most pressure in my mind. This is the example where there is pressure on the player, scouting department, front office, pretty much all parties involved. The reason for the most pressure is that he is a former no. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft.

He was not just selected no. 1 overall, he was selected no. 1 overall in order to be the team's long-term answer at catcher. Something that still seems to be far from a guarantee for Davis and the Pirates.

Davis has been limited to say the least at the catching experience in the majors. It is rumored that it there is the notion that his defense is not good enough to play at the major league level. This is concerning to hear.

With Endy Rodriguez out for the season, the pressure is all on Davis to be the catcher and live up to the no. 1 overall pick. Hopefully, the Pirates let him play catcher until the point where the defense is showing to be so bad that he cannot be back there.

I have not seen any sign that his defense is as atrocious as rumored, but looking back at this pick it will be a great failure by all parties involved if he cannot produce as a MLB catcher. If he can not catch then there is even more pressure added to his bat, allowing him to produce as a right fielder or designated hitter.

No. 2 - Quinn Priester/Roansy Contreras/Luis Ortiz

Someone has to step up and round out the rotation. I lump these three players together as they were all individually prospects that had high expectations to be instant impact pitchers in a lack lust rotation.

Out of these three players, Contreras may be the easiest to worry about. Contreras was extremely ineffective last season, on his way to losing his spot in the starting rotation and eventually the active roster as he was optioned back down to the FCL in an effort to address his struggles.

Ortiz may not be far behind Contreras. As for Priester, there are plenty of reasons for worry as well but he also has just 10 career appearances. At least one of these pitchers need to step up and take the ball every 5th day and give the team a chance to win the ball game. That will make the back of the starting rotation one of the biggest battles to watch in spring training.

No. 3 - Mitch Keller

The team's top starting pitcher heading into the 2024 season, Keller has pressure, but not in the line of saving his career in Pittsburgh. The pressure with Keller is to put together full season of his best baseball.

That is the only chance the Pirates have of being competitive this season. Keller needs to be shutdown and also there is pressure for good performance as Mitch is still looking to receive an extension. A full year of great pitching from Keller should come with a nice pay day from the Pirates. Hopefully, Keller can have another All-Star year and be apart of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the long haul.

No. 4 - Oneil Cruz

Cruz is in the same boat as Keller. Cruz needs to be outstanding this year in order to keep the Pirates in the hunt throughout the 2024 season. Cruz is different where there is still curiousity to what a full, healthy year will look like for him.

Now, Cruz is fully recovered from his catastrophic injury with no limitations in the field or at the plate. Hopefully, Cruz can continue to build upon the improved patience and approach he showed at the plate before getting injured on Eastern Sunday.

If the Pirates are going to take a step toward contending and playing meaningful games in September and beyond, Cruz needs to take that step into superstar category. The potential and ability is there for Cruz. He may be the most important position player for the 2024 Pirates.

No. 5 - Nick Gonzales/Liover Peguero

Someone has to win the second base job. I know Jared Triolo is in the mix for this role as well, but Peguero and Gonzales were both once highly touted prospects. This is the pressure of someone being able to solidify the second base job and potentially become a staple of this young Pirates core that they are trying to build.

Gonzales not panning out would again be another first round pick (2020 pick no. 7) failed by the scouting department and front office. Missing on all of these first round picks will start to raise eyebrows and question what we are doing as an organization when it comes to draft prep.

As for Peguero, opportunity appear to be knocking in 2024. The front office remains very high on him, he is a plus defender at second base, and likely has the highest offensive ceiling of the players competing for the job.