Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Players Impressing This Spring

Spring training results mean very little. However, players can still be evaluated based on how they look at the plate, how their stuff looks on the mound, and if they look healthy.

Every year in spring training there are players who impress. Now, these results must always be taken with a grain of salt. For a variety of reasons, spring training results mean very little. That said, there are still things that can be taken from players who are impressing in the spring.

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, there are multiple players impressing this spring and doing so in a fashion that some stock could be put into. Results are not the best way to evaluate players in spring training. However, it is fair to evaluate a player based on how they look at the plate, if they look healthy after previously battling injuries, and if a pitcher's stuff looks good.

There are three players who fit this bill for the Pittsburgh Pirates thus far this spring. With Opening Day now just a little over two weeks away, let's take a look at these three Pirate players who are impressing thus far this spring.

Left-handed reliever Jose Hernandez

The Pirate bullpen will be a major question mark this season. Within the bullpen, left-handed pitching will be a major question mark of its own. This problem was only made even larger when it was announced that Jarlín García will miss "multiple weeks" with a forearm issue.

García's injury will create opportunities for multiple relievers. One of these relievers is lefty Jose Hernandez. After being selected by the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft Hernandez was almost assuredly going to make the Opening Day roster even before García's injury, but that injury combined with how Hernandez has looked this spring has locked his spot down.

The 25-year-old lefty has looked nearly un-hittable at times this spring. Hernandez is a flamethrower who possesses a big-time power fastball. This spring the pitch has been flirting with triple digits. He also throws a slider that has the potential to be a plus pitch.

Hernandez has appeared in five games this spring, logging 5 innings. While he's allowed two home runs which has contributed to ballooning his ERA to 7.20, he has walked just one batter while stirking out seven. Control has always been an issue for Hernandez in the minors so seeing just one walk is very encouraging.

Rule 5 Draft picks rarely pan out. This alone stacks the deck against Hernandez. That said, he appears to have the stuff and pitching makeup needed to be a Rule 5 Draft pick who pans out. He will be given every opportunity to do so this season and watching him pitch should provide excitement for Pirate fans.

Outfielder Travis Swaggerty

Last week, we talked about Travis Swaggerty turning heads in camp. The former first-round pick looks completely healthy for the first time since spring training in 2021. As a result, the 25-year-old could be playing his way into an Opening Day roster spot.

Had it not been for a shoulder injury that ended his season after just 12 games at the Triple-A level in 2021, Swaggerty likely would have made his MLB debut that summer and been given a real opportunity to lockdown a starting job. Last season, he did finally make his MLB debut, but was limited to just nine at-bats. An early season concussion also had a negative impact on his season.

This spring, Swaggerty finally looks healthy. With healthy usually comes improved play and that is eacabtly what the Pirates have seen from Swaggerty this spring. Swaggerty has looked good at the plate, his swing looks strong, and he has played good defense in the outfield.

Entering play on Tuesday Swaggerty had accumulated 18 plate appearances in 11 Grapefruit League games. In these 18 PAs he has hit for a .294/.333/.647 slash line to go with 2 home runs, a walk, and just four strikeouts.

If the Pirates continue to get this version of Swaggerty he very well could make the team's Opening Day roster. Even if he starts the season at Triple-A, if he continues to look the way he has this spring he should get an opportunity in the majors at some point in the 2023 season.