Pittsburgh Pirates Finalize 2026 Opening Day Roster

For the first time in what feels like a decade, the Pittsburgh Pirates will enter the new season with what feels like true aspirations of possibly reaching the playoffs. As the Pirates get ready to start the 2026 MLB season, the team announced its Opening Day lineup on the eve of the first game of the year. Here is the group of players Pittsburgh will be going into the season with: Position Players C Joey Bart OF Billy Cook OF Oneil Cruz C Henry Davis INF Nick Gonzales INF Spencer Horwitz INF Brandon Lowe OF Jake Mangum 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn DH Marcell Ozuna OF Bryan Reynolds INF/OF Nick Yorke Pitchers RHP Braxton Ashcraft LHP Bubba Chandler RHP Mitch Keller RHP Justin Lawrence RHP Isaac Mattson RHP Carmen Mlodzinski LHP Mason Montgomery RHP Yohan Ramirez RHP Dennis Santana RHP Paul Skenes LHP Gregory Soto RHP Jose Urquidy Sep 20, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) and second baseman Nick Yorke (38) celebrate after defeating the Athletics at PNC Park.

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Even just taking a quick look at the roster the Pirates will begin the season with, the team has made a significant jump in proven hitters in the lineup. Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna will undoubtedly give the In 2025, the Pirates had a team OPS of . 655, which ranked last in MLB.

If this team stays healthy, they should be better than that, thanks to the newcomers and development from the young players. Plus, the top prospect, Konnor Griffin, could make his big league debut shortly after the season begins, which will add another offensive threat to the lineup. As for the pitching, the Pirates enter the season with one of the better rotations in baseball, led by Paul Skenes, and will only get better once Jared Jones is healthy (60-day injured list).

Looking at the bullpen, Pittsburgh arguably has one of the more underrated reliever cores with Dennis Santana and Gregory Soto giving Don Kelly options in save and high-leverage situations. Will this roster be good enough to compete in the National League Central and get into the playoffs, possibly as a Wild Card team? Time will tell, but their journey starts on Thursday.