The Pirates' forecast heading into the 2022 season was bleak, and the team finished tied at the bottom of the NL Central with a 62-100 record. Pittsburgh ended the season with the second-worst batting average in the majors, while an awful pitching staff had the fifth-highest earned run average.
Center fielder Bryan Reynolds led the team with 27 home runs and 62 RBIs, while closer David Bednar racked up 19 saves.
The 2023 outlook for the Pirates is not good, as the small market franchise will compete with the Reds for the worst team in the division.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a National League (NL) Central division team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, founded in 1887 as part of the National League. They were known as the "Alleghenys" until 1890 when they officially became the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates have won five World Series titles (1909, 1925, 1960, 1971, and 1979), nine NL Pennants, and nine Division titles (though none since they moved to the Central Division). Some of the iconic moments from their history include Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run to win the 1960 World Series against the New York Yankees and Honus Wagner becoming the first player to join baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1936.
The Pirates currently play their home games at PNC Park, located along the Allegheny River in Downtown Pittsburgh. It opened in 2001 and replaced Three Rivers Stadium, which had been their home since 1970. The ballpark offers stunning views of the city skyline, has a capacity of over 38,000 people, and has been named one of the best ballparks in America by several publications.
The biggest rivals of the Pittsburgh Pirates are the cross-state Philadelphia Phillies, whom they compete against annually for bragging rights. Other rivals include fellow NL Central teams such as Cincinnati Reds, St Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Houston Astros.
Some of the most iconic players for the Pittsburgh Pirates include who was a 15-time All-Star and four-time MVP Roberto Clemente; Hall-of-Famer Willie Stargell; the legendary Barry Bonds (who set numerous records with his 762 career home runs); 1978 MVP Dave Parker; Bill Mazeroski (who hit a historic walk-off homerun against the Yankees during 1960 World Series); 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen; five-time All-Star Ron Shelton; Honus Wagner (eight batting titles); and Francisco Cervelli (five Gold Glove Awards).
