The Pirates know exactly where one of their biggest offensive problems sits: against left-handed pitching, especially left-handed starters. In 2026, that hole was glaring.
Pittsburgh went 18-33 against southpaw starters, while posting a .231/.303/.360 slash line for a .663 OPS. Only four teams had fewer wins in those matchups, and the numbers paint the rest of the picture - second-worst slugging percentage, fourth-worst OPS, seventh-worst batting average and 11th-worst on-base percentage.
The good news for Pittsburgh is that help might already be in the building.
Konnor Griffin, one of the organization’s top young players in 2026, gave the Pirates a real reason to believe he can be part of the answer. The rookie shortstop hit .272/.324/.404 with an .728 OPS in 80 games, collecting 85 hits, 15 doubles, four triples, six homers, 33 RBI and 23 steals.
Against lefties, he was even better, batting .325/.374/.458 for an .832 OPS with 27 hits in 83 at-bats. The Pirates are most likely to bat him leadoff next season, and if he can keep setting the tone against southpaws, that changes the shape of this lineup quickly.
Health, of course, remains part of the equation.
Oneil Cruz made an even bigger jump. No Pirate improved more against left-handed pitching last season than the center fielder, who went from .102/.224/.176 in 2025 to .326/.374/.473 in 2026.
That’s an .847 OPS, 42 hits in 129 at-bats, five doubles, a triple, five home runs and 19 RBI. He put in work over the offseason to clean up that weakness and emerged as Pittsburgh’s best bat against southpaws, even as a left-handed hitter himself.
Like Griffin, he missed extended time with injury in 2026, so availability will matter again.
Then there’s Esmerlyn Valdez, who helped keep the Pirates afloat when the lineup needed a jolt in July. He earned National League Rookie of the Month honors after hitting .250/.355/.587 with a .942 OPS, 23 hits in 92 at-bats, five doubles, eight homers and 25 RBI.
His value to Pittsburgh could come in a very specific way: right-handed power against lefties. In 2026, he slashed .233/.378/.633 for a 1.011 OPS, with 21 hits in 90 at-bats, seven doubles, a triple, nine home runs, 26 RBI and 21 walks against 38 strikeouts.
Still, the final stretch wasn’t as clean. He hit .169/.306/.305 over his last 35 games, and after a rookie season that included a hamstring injury, he’ll have work to do this offseason as big-league pitchers adjust.
Bryan Reynolds remains the most reliable piece in the mix. Injuries hurt the Pirates’ season, but Reynolds stayed on the field all year, playing all 162 games in 2026 - the first Pirate to do that since Jason Bay in 2005.
He also led MLB with 40 doubles, becoming the first Pirate to top the majors in that category since Freddy Sanchez hit 53 in 2006. As a switch-hitter, Reynolds did his part against lefties too, batting .276/.364/.443 with an .807 OPS, 58 hits, 14 doubles, seven homers and 33 RBI.
It was his best work against southpaws since 2021, when he hit .325/.403/.512 for a .915 OPS in his first All-Star season.
At catcher, the Pirates may have found another answer in Rafael Flores Jr. The rookie hit .264/.331/.527 with an .858 OPS in 47 games, piling up 39 hits, six doubles, 11 home runs and 25 RBI.
He was strong against left-handed pitching as well, batting .275/.359/.565 for a .924 OPS with 19 hits in 69 at-bats, two doubles, six homers and 15 RBI. Pittsburgh got him in the 2025 deadline trade that sent David Bednar to the New York Yankees, along with two other prospects, and the idea was to add a right-handed power-hitting catcher.
Flores has delivered on that part of the job, and if his defense keeps moving forward, he should be the club’s starter in 2027.
In Other News...
Pirates Are Already Sending A Worrying Brandon Lowe Offseason Signal
Brandon Lowes first year with the Pirates gave the club plenty to like, both on the field and in the clubhouse, and general manager Ben Cherington made clear the organization noticed. Cherington praised Lowes performance and the way he fit in with the group, which is exactly the sort of internal endorsement a player wants heading into free agency for the first time.
Still, Pittsburgh is not treating a return as a given. Cherington also suggested the Pirates need to keep exploring other options before deciding whether to bring Lowe back, a sign that the club is weighing the relationship against financial reality and whatever the market brings. Lowe and the Pirates have mutual interest in a reunion, but the next step may come down to whether the numbers line up. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Still Have One Roster Hole They Cant Ignore This Winter
The Pirates took a step forward in the standings this past season, but the bigger picture is still hard to ignore: October remains out of reach, now for the 11th straight year. Even with the progress, the roster still showed some of the same flaws that have lingered through much of the rebuild, especially when it came to matching up with left-handed pitching and generating enough impact from the right side of the plate.
There is also a more specific concern hanging over the offseason: third base does not yet look settled, and the defensive side of the position remains a question. Pittsburgh could try to address that through a trade or in free agency, and it feels like one of those spots that can quietly shape how competitive the club is next year, even if it does not grab as many headlines as the power issue. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Prospect Has A Roberto Clemente Connection Fans Will Want To See
Aiden Ruiz is already giving Pirates fans a reason to pay attention beyond the draft slot. The infielder, taken in the second round of the 2026 MLB Draft, has built a reputation around his defense at shortstop, and he also carries a connection to Roberto Clemente that fits naturally with Pittsburghs long memory of the Hall of Famer. Ruiz was the fourth overall pick in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League draft, adding another layer to a profile that has started to draw notice.
That connection runs through both his Puerto Rican heritage and the setting itself, since Ruiz played in the leagues stadium and now could keep building his game in winter ball with Gigantes de Carolina. For the Pirates, the bigger picture is simple enough: a young infielder with defensive upside, a meaningful baseball tie to Clemente, and a professional debut expected to come in the 2027 season. [Read more 🡒]