It looks like the Pittsburgh Pirates have the right side of their infield solidifed.
Spencer Horwitz, the team’s top hitter in 2025, will be the primary first baseman. Horwitz, who was acquired last offseason, got a delayed start due to a wrist/thumb injury but went on to slash .272/.353/.434 with 26 doubles, 11 home runs and 51 RBI in 108 games.
To his right will be a new face the Pirates are counting on to boost the offense in two-time All-Star Brandon Lowe. The Pirates acquired the 31-year-old from the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team trade and are hoping he’s able to replicate a season in which he slugged 31 home runs, drove in 83 runs and had a .785 OPS.
Who will make up the rest of the Pirates’ infield is yet to be determined. The biggest storyline will be whether or not top prospect Konnor Griffin makes the club’s Opening Day roster as the starting shortstop. The 19-year-old phenom skyrocketed through the organization last year with a stellar showing in his first professional season but has yet to play a game in Triple-A.
Griffin has true five-tool potential and it will be interesting to see how he handles himself this spring. If he does what he did in the minor leagues last season, there’s a real chance he could be the first teenager to suit up for the Pirates in almost 30 years. If the decision is made to have him begin the year with Indianapolis, general manager Ben Cherington and manager Don Kelly will have some interesting decisions to make.
Jared Triolo can play third base or slide over to short if needed. The slick-fielder won a 2024 Gold Glove as a utility player and is about as sure-handed as they come. His bat has left some to be desired, however, Triolo ended the year strong offensively. That’s not the first time that’s happened, but both he and the Pirates are hoping what he’s shown late can translate to a full 162-game slate.
The Pirates also have Nick Gonzales, a natural second baseman who played a handful of games at shortstop last year and has been seen getting reps at the hot corner early on this spring. The former first-round pick hasn’t quite lived up to his reputation at the plate yet. Last season, he hit a respectable .260 but had a lowly .299 on-base percentage, a .661 OPS and only five home runs in 96 games.
Looking at the other players on the 40-man roster, free agent signing Ryan O’Hearn will see time at first base when he’s not the designated hitter or playing the outfield, where he will likely start. Endy RodrÃguez and Rafael Flores could both start the season with Indianapolis but can play first in addition to catching.
Enmanuel Valdez and Nick Yorke offer versatility. Valdez played a good bit of first base last year before suffering a season-ending shoulder surgery. He also has experience at second base and could see more time at third. Yorke played 14 games at second base, six at first and one at third (plus four games in the outfield) for the Pirates last season.
Prospect Jack Brannigan, who was added to the 40-man roster this offseason in protection from being selected in the Rule 5 Draft, will start the year in the minors.
One more storyline worth monitoring is if the Pirates will add a third baseman before the start of the season. They explored a number of free agent options but struck out in their pursuits. If the Pirates do indeed make an addition, at this point, it will be more likely to come via trade.
So while we can get an idea of what the infield could look like with or without Griffin on the initial roster, things could drastically change if another move is made.
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