Pittsburgh Pirates: Examining What the Opening Day Outfield Could Look Like

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When the regular season begins, what could the outfield look like for the Pittsburgh Pirates?

With just about three weeks to go until the Pittsburgh Pirates report to Bradenton and spring training 2024 kicks off, the team's roster is starting to take shape. This includes the outfield, which did see a bit of a shakeup earlier in the offseason when Endy Rodriguez underwent Tommy John surgery, bumping Henry Davis from the right field mix to catching.

Two of three spots in the Pirate outfield are pretty set in stone ahead of the start of the season. However, right field does remain a bit up in the air. So, today, we will dive into examining what the Pirate outfield could be on Opening Day.

Now, obviously, things could change. General manager Ben Cherington has mentioned a desire to add center field help this offseason and the Pirates have been connected to Michael A. Taylor, who remains unsigned.

Left Field - Bryan Reynolds

This one is set in stone. When the season begins, Bryan Reynolds will have left field locked down for the Pirates while being arguably the most important bat in the team's lineup and player on the roster this season.

Despite it being a down season for him, Reynolds still had a strong 2023. He hit for a .263/.330/.460 slash line with a 110 wRC+, 113 OPS+, .197 isolated slugging (ISO), and he hit 24 home runs. Reynolds went on to post a 2.4 WAR.

Again, there isn't much else to say here. Reynolds has become one of the best left fielders in baseball, recently being voted as the 4th best left fielder as part of MLB Network's yearly MLB Now series. If the Pirates are going to surprise people and contend in 2024, Reynolds will be a big reason why.

Center Field - Jack Suwinski

The past two seasons Jack Suwinski has become a mainstay in the Pirate lineup. While he battled inconsistency, Suwinski finished the 2023 season with a .224/.339/.454 slash line with a 112 wRC+, 115 OPS+, and a .230 ISO on his way to posting a 2.2 WAR.

On the surface those numbers look fine from Suwinski, but there are some issues there. First off, Suwinski has an issue with swing-and-miss. Last season he struck out at a 32.2% clip which is much higher than you want to see from an every day player.

Suwinski also struggles mightily against left-handed pitching. He is a lifetime .164/.263/.300 hitter with a 57 wRC+ and a 37.4% strikeout rate against left-handed pitching. While the Pirates could play Suwinski against left-handed pitching, they would be better suited to find someone else to man center field against lefties.

Finally, there is Suwinski's center field defense. Last season he had a -10 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) and a +4 Outs Above Average (OAA) in center field. For his career, these numbers are -9 and +5. Ideally, you would like to a have stronger defensive center fielder than Suwinski.

The Pirates could do worse than Suwinski as an every day center fielder. At the same time, they could also find an upgrade defensively. Additionally, the best make up of the Pirate outfield is one with Suwinski platooning in right field. This protects Suwinski against left-handed pitching, and puts him in his best defensive position.

Right Field - Edward Olivares, Billy McKinney

If Opening Day was tomorrow, there is a real shot that right field would be a platoon situation between Edward Olivares and Billy McKinney, two players the Pirates acquired via trade earlier this offseason. Platooning these two in right field can help maximize their strengths, while also preserving Andrew McCutchen's health by allowing him to DH.

Olivares has a lifetime .451 slugging percentage, .203 ISO, 6.2% walk rate, and 104 wRC+ against left-handed pitching in his career. Meanwhile, against right-handed pitching those numbers drop to a .413 slugging percentage, .145 ISO, 4.9% walk rate, and a 96 wRC+.

While his career numbers are nothing to write home about, McKinney is coming off his best offensive season since his first MLB season in 2018. In 147 plate appearances last season, McKinney hit for a .227/.30/.406 slash line with a .180 ISO, 11.6% walk rate, 101 wRC+, and a 98 OPS+.

McKinney made soem changes to his swing and approach at the plate last season that led to positive results. If these adjustments can help him carry his 11.1% barrel rate, 89.0 MPH average exit velocity, and 40.7% hard hit rate into this season, he could be a strong platoon partner with Olivares.

Defensively, McKinney would also be a boost in right field. He owns a lifetime +6 OAA and +5 DRS in right field. A big upgrade over the -9 OAA and -8 DRS Olivares has in his career as a right fielder, and a move toward attempting to maximize run prevention would be a smart move for the Pirates this season.

Platooning McKinney and Olivares in right field would also fit with the past preference of Derek Shelton to work young hitters such as Olivares into the lineup via platoon. Plus, some players are just better served in platoon roles and McKinney may fit that bill.

Again, McCutchen could factor into the right field equation as well. The Pirates wanted to use him in right field more last season but injury prevented that. So, there could also be a scenario where McCutchen is splitting with McKinney in right field, while serving as the team's designated hitter when he's not in the outfield.

Potential Others in the Mix

If Ji Hwan Bae makes the Opening Day roster as a utility player, then he could factor into the center field equation as well. Late in games, he could go to center field for defense, with Suwinski sliding over to right field. He could also spell Suwinski against left-handed pitching due to Bae always being a reverse splits hitter. That said, as of now Jared Triolo would appear to have a leg up for the utility role off the Pirate bench.

Joshua Palacios could be in the mix as well. He did some good things for the Pirates in clutch situations last season and brought a lot of energy to the team. That said, he was a negative WAR player with an 83 wRC+ and 86 OPS+. While he could compete to be the platoon partner with Olivares, due to having minor league options remaining, odds are, Palacios starts the season in the minors.

Connor Joe could also play the corner outfield positions, but it's more likely that he will platoon with Rowdy Tellez at first base. Joe is coming off a sneaky strong 2023 season in which he posted a 107 wRC+ and OPS+.

Joe will factor into the team's Opening Day roster in some fashion. While it will likely be as a platoon partner with Tellez, he could also see time in the outfield at various points throughout the 2024 season.

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