Three Current Pirates Cracked Team’s All-Quarter Century Team

The Pittsburgh Pirates have plenty of talented stars in their rotation and lineup.

Pittsburgh struck gold by drafting rookie phenom Paul Skenes, who has quickly become one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. Skenes was named an All-Star and the National League Rookie of the Year in his historic rookie season. On the other side of the plate, Bryan Reynolds was named a 2024 All-Star, while Andrew McCutchen remained one of Pittsburgh’s best hitters.

After being some of the best Pirates players in the 2000s, McCutchen, Reynolds, and Skenes were named to the Pirates’ All-Quarter Century Team, according to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf.

“The easiest pick on this list. McCutchen is an All-Star, an MVP and a true Pittsburgher, and he deserves to be in the conversation for the greatest players in the franchise’s history,” Stumpf said. “The DH is in both leagues now, so we have an opportunity to give one runner-up a spot in the starting lineup. While there’s a case to be made for Sanchez and Bay, Reynolds has been a model of efficiency since he joined Pittsburgh, being the only switch-hitter in franchise history with four consecutive 20-homer seasons.”

“Really? Skenes?” Stumpf continued. “Not Gerrit Cole or A.J. Burnett, Batman himself? With respect to those two, they never had a season in Black and Gold like Skenes did in 2024. If you get to pick one Pirate from the last 25 years to start a must-win game, how is it not Skenes?”

McCutchen, Reynolds, and Skenes have some of the most influential players on the team in recent years. If the Pirates retain McCutchen this offseason, it will be promising that they will have these great players on their current roster.

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