North Shore Nine

Paul Skenes dominated in his rookie season, boasting a 1.96 ERA, but he’s looking to improve even further in his sophomore year. The Pirates’ ace has reportedly been working on efficiency and even experimenting with a cutter and a two-seamer to complement his already lethal arsenal. Despite some concerns about unnecessary tinkering, both Skenes and pitching coach Oscar Marin emphasized that the goal is to put hitters away faster, not to pitch to contact.

Meanwhile, David Bednar is back in camp, reportedly in the best shape of his life after a rough 2024 season. The Pirates are banking on him returning to his elite closer form, as they haven’t brought in another high-leverage arm like Aroldis Chapman this year.

Johan Oviedo also returned from Tommy John surgery, giving the Pirates another potential rotation piece, though Derek Shelton emphasized they’ll have to monitor his workload.

With full squad workouts starting, the countdown to Spring Training games—and warmer weather—has begun!