Minor league signings that could make the Pirates' Opening Day roster

Which minor league signings currently in camp with the Pittsburgh Pirates could make the team's Opening Day roster?

It looks like the Pittsburgh Pirates could be without Dauri Moreta for an extended period of time, at least to start the 2024 season. The long relief spot was already up for contention at the start of the preseason, which could lead to the Pirates having open competition for multiple bullpen spots.

It’s still rather early into Spring Training, but there are definitely some names that stand out among their minor league signees. Some have already taken a lead in any potential competition for a final bullpen. Although not all of these players will make the Opening Day roster, you could find one or two on the roster as the team heads into its first regular season game.

Hunter Stratton

Hunter Stratton has had a flat-out dominant Spring Training thus far. He has pitched six innings without allowing a run, has struck out six, and only walked two. Originally a 16th-round pick by the Pirates in 2017, the right-handed relief prospect made his debut last season with the Bucs. Although they non-tendered him at the end of the year, they brought him back into the fold via a minor league contract, and he could find himself in the Opening Day bullpen.

Stratton’s first taste of MLB action only consisted of 12 frames, but he allowed three earned runs, only walked three, and struck out ten. Stratton showed off a four-seamer that sat around 95-96 MPH with nearly 2600 RPM. That’s about where he has sat in Spring Training with the same pitch. He also throws a low-90s cutter with about 2700 RPM, as well as a mid-80s cutter with around the same amount of spin as his cut fastball.

Stratton also ended the 2023 minor league season on a high note. From the start of July until he was promoted to the Major Leagues in early September, Stratton pitched to a 1.87 ERA, 3.03 FIP, and 0.83 WHIP in 24 innings. He struck out well over a third of the batters he faced with a 35.8% K-rate while also carrying a strong 0.75 HR/9 and a respectable 8.7% walk rate. His K:BB ratio was just a touch over 4.00 at 4.13.

If there is any pitcher who signed a minor league contract with the Pirates this winter and has an inside track to get an Opening Day roster spot, you have to imagine it’s Hunter Stratton. He’s looked great in Spring, had a solid brief September call-up last year, and had a phenomenal second half in the minor leagues.

Brent Honeywell

Brent Honeywell was once considered one of the best prospects in baseball. He was a consensus top-15 prospect in baseball in 2018, but injuries derailed a once-promising career. He did not throw a single pitch from 2018 through 2020, and when he returned, he had diminished stuff. But Honeywell has done relatively well in Spring Training, for what it’s worth.

Through 5.2 innings, Honeywell has allowed three earned runs. But on the positive side, the right-hander has given up just a single free pass while striking out eight batters. Honeywell is a rare breed of a pitcher who throws a screwball. Along with a four-seamer that sits 94 MPH, he also tosses a sweeper and change-up.

Last year, his screwball and sweeper were fairly effective, holding opponents to an xwOBA below .300. The latter had a whiff rate of 48.1%, the seventh highest whiff% among any pitcher who threw a sweeper last season. Batters, however, hit his four-seam fastball well with a .428 xwOBA and 91.1 MPH exit velocity against it. He also faced some struggles with his change-up with an xwOBA of .351.

Although Honeywell has some decent pitches, he struggled overall in 2023. In 52.2 innings, Honeywell owned a 4.82 ERA, 5.62 FIP, and 1.45 WHIP. Honeywell had an unimpressive 19.2% strikeout rate and a 9.8% walk rate, but he struggled greatly with limiting home runs. He had a 1.72 HR/9 rate. Honeywell was below the tenth percentile in both exit velocity (90.9 MPH) and hard-hit rate (47.8%).

Honeywell has done well in Spring Training, but it is still only Spring Training and the sample size is less than six innings. Prioritizing his best pitches, namely his sweeper and screwball, could help him improve in 2024. Honeywell is in the running for the long relief role and has done just as well as any of the other candidates.