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2022: 62-100, tied for fourth place.
Manager: Derek Shelton (fourth season).
Opening day: March 30 at Cincinnati.
He's here: OF/DH Andrew McCutchen, 1B/DH Carlos Santana, 1B Ji-Man Choi, OF Connor Joe, C Austin Hedges, LHP Rich Hill, RHP Vince Velasquez.
He's outta here: 2B Kevin Newman, 1B Michael Chavis, OF Ben Gamel, INF Josh VanMeter, INF Hoy Park, RHP Zach Thompson.
Top hitters: CF Bryan Reynolds (.262, 27 HRs, 62 RBIs, 19 2Bs, .807 OPS), SS Oneil Cruz (.233, 17, 54, 10 SBs), 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes (.244, 7, 41, 20 SBs), OF/DH Andrew McCutchen (.237, 17, 69 with Milwaukee), 1B/DH Carlos Santana (.202, 19, 60 with Kansas City and Seattle).
Projected rotation: RH Mitch Keller (5-12, 3.91 ERA), RH JT Brubaker (3-12, 4.69), RH Roansy Contreras (5-5, 3.79), LH Rich Hill (8-7, 4.27 with Boston), RH Vince Velasquez (3-3, 4.78 in 27 appearances, 9 starts with White Sox).
Key relievers: RH David Bednar (3-4, 2.61 ERA, 19/23 saves), RH Wil Crowe (6-10, 4.38, 4 saves), RH Chase De Jong (6-3, 2.64, 1 save), RH Duane Underwood Jr. (1-6, 4.40, 1 save).
Outlook: The Pirates believe the top-to-bottom overhaul that began in the fall of 2019 is starting to near completion. McCutchen stressed his return to a team he starred with a decade ago wasn't based solely on nostalgia. He believes the Pirates can take a step forward the same way the clubs he led in the early 2010s did. A lot will depend on if a mostly young starting staff can keep the momentum going after a solid finish to 2022 and if Cruz can blossom. The 6-foot-7 shortstop is loaded with talent. Consistency at the plate and better defense in the field is the next step. A handful of other highly touted prospects could reach Pittsburgh at some point during the season, signs the franchise thinks the window to contention is close to opening.
-- The Associated Press