The Pittsburgh Pirates are finalizing their Opening Day roster. Their very first game is on March 26 against the New York Mets. Their bench is coming to form, and some of the expected names are making it: Joey Bart, Nick Yorke, and Jake Mangum. However, one player who fought his way onto the bench is outfielder/first baseman Billy Cook. Cook may not be as highly touted as the other names on the Bucs’ bench, but make no mistake, he certainly has the potential to be a reliable 4th/5th outfielder.

A rebound on the horizon?
Mar 11, 2025; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first base Billy Cook (25) reacts after he got hit by a pitch during the fourth inning against the New York Yankees at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The Pirates acquired Cook at the 2024 trade deadline from the Baltimore Orioles. 2025 was not the best of seasons for him. He spent most of the year at Triple-A, where he hit .248/.323/.384 with a .320 wOBA and 90 wRC+. Cook walked 9.1% of the time, but had an unimpressive 27.2% strikeout percentage. Despite hitting for plenty of power in the past, Cook only went yard eight times in 375 plate appearances, leading to a .136 isolated slugging percentage in 2025.

However, Cook isn’t far removed from a strong 2024 season. During that season, Cook turned in a .275/.375/.474 triple-slash while going yard 17 times in 493 plate appearances. He had a much better 23.5% strikeout rate and walked in 12% of his plate appearances. Cook’s ISO clocked in at .199. Overall, he had a .377 wOBA and a 126 wRC+ for the Orioles’ Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, along with the Pirates’ Triple-A team.

Promising 2024 MLB debut

Cook made his MLB debut in 2024, and while he only played in 16 games, there were certainly a handful of positives. He showed off his power, going yard three times and racking up a pair of doubles. His exit velocity came in at 92.6 MPH, and his barrel rate sat at 13.3%. However, Cook dazzled on the defensive side of the ball. In just 85 innings in the outfield, Cook racked up +6 defensive runs saved and +3 outs above average. He also had two assists. His time was also spent almost evenly between all three outfield positions, with 31 innings in center field and 27 in both outfield corners. He also logged 35 innings at first base, where he was a solid defender. Cook also sat in the 93rd percentile of sprint speed.

However, Cook also raised some serious red flags based on his small sample of MLB playing time. Although he made outstanding contact, he also had a 39.8% whiff rate. His contact rate sat at just 60%. Cook also chased outside the zone very often, with a 36.9% chase rate. He didn’t draw a single walk because of his aggressive approach.

His role after Spring Training

Cook certainly earned a roster spot out of Spring Training. In 49 plate appearances, Cook had ten hits. Half of his hits went for extra bases, as he went yard twice and had three doubles. Cook also drew a half-dozen walks, but struck out 13 times. Swing-and-miss still plagued Cook, with a 37.2% whiff rate, but he still made excellent contact, as his exit velocity comes in at 90.8 MPH in Spring Training.

If Cook looks anything like he did in 2024, he’ll be one of the Pirates’ fastest players and their best defensive outfielder with a strong arm. He’ll also provide a solid right-handed hitting complement to Spencer Horwitz at first base. Even if Cook’s overall hitting isn’t great, his defense and baserunning will be good enough that as long as he is playable at the plate, he’ll provide the Pirates with a ton of value.

(Top Image Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)