Pirates Open Spring Training With High Hopes for 2026 Season

Pittsburgh makes key offseason additions to bolster roster and compete in tough NL Central division.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The Pittsburgh Pirates have reported to spring training in Bradenton, Florida with high hopes for the 2026 season. The team made several key offseason additions, including left-handed reliever Gregory Soto, right-hander José Urquidy, and power hitters Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna. Manager Don Kelly is optimistic about the team's chances, saying "Guys are excited to go." Defending National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes has also arrived early to get a jump on the season and prepare for the World Baseball Classic.

Why it matters

The Pirates are looking to bounce back from a 71-91 record and last-place finish in the NL Central division in 2025. With several playoff teams in the division, the front office has made a concerted effort to upgrade the roster and give the team a better chance of contending this year.

The details

The Pirates have added several key pieces to the roster, including left-handed reliever Gregory Soto, who is a two-time All-Star, right-hander José Urquidy, who has playoff experience, and power hitters Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, and Marcell Ozuna, who combined for 69 home runs last season. Outfielders Jhostynxon Garcia and Jake Mangum, who showed defensive and baserunning prowess in his rookie season, have also joined the team. The goal is for the new additions to mesh with the existing core and help the Pirates compete in the tough NL Central division.

  • The Pirates' first mandatory report day for pitchers and catchers was on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
  • Full-squad workouts are set to begin next week.

The players

Don Kelly

The manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Bob Nutting

The chairman of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Ben Cherington

The general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Paul Skenes

The defending National League Cy Young Award winner, entering his third MLB season.

Gregory Soto

A left-handed reliever and two-time All-Star who was added to the Pirates' roster this offseason.

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What they’re saying

“We can feel however we want to, we can be excited and emotional and all that, but we've got to go out there and do it.”

— Paul Skenes (mlb.com)

“It's a really hard division. We know that we're going to have to be at our best to compete within it. We believe we can. I think it'll be a fun division. I think that's not only competitive, but there's a ton of young, really exciting young players, young stars in the division. It'll be fun to be a part of.”

— Ben Cherington, General Manager (mlb.com)

What’s next

The Pirates will continue their spring training preparations, with full-squad workouts set to begin next week. The team will also need to finalize their roster and make any additional moves before the start of the 2026 regular season.

The takeaway

The Pirates have made a concerted effort to upgrade their roster this offseason, adding several key pieces to bolster their bullpen and lineup. With a tough NL Central division, the team will need to come together and perform at their best to have a chance at making the playoffs in 2026.