Pair Of Pirates Sluggers Set Alarming Franchise Record

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ offense hasn’t performed as hoped this year, struggling in multiple areas. While the team’s lack of power has drawn considerable attention, the lineup’s failure to generate consistent contact has also been a major issue.

Entering play on Thursday, the Pirates ranked 28th in MLB in batting average (.231) and 24th in strikeouts (1,383). Striking out isn’t necessarily a bad thing if you compensate for it with a lot of power, but Pittsburgh doesn’t, ranking last in MLB in home runs (113) and slugging percentage (.350).

In particular, two Pirates players have contributed a large chunk of those whiffs. Oneil Cruz leads the team with 173 strikeouts, while Bryan Reynolds has fanned 170 times.

Their 343 strikeouts are the most ever by a pair of Pittsburgh teammates, breaking their own record from last season (337). They have over 100 more strikeouts than hits (233) combined.

They’re also the first pair of Pirates teammates with over 170 strikeouts apiece. Surprisingly, though, neither cracks the top 10 in MLB.

Bryan Reynolds & Oneil Cruz have 342 strikeouts in 1172 plate appearances this year. It’s a record number of strikeouts for Pirates teammates.

Pirates Hall of Famers/brothers Paul Waner & Lloyd Waner had 341 strikeouts in 11981 PAs during the 1930s…the entire decade

— John Dreker (@JohnDreker) September 24, 2025

In their defense, they’re the two best power hitters on the team. Cruz leads Pittsburgh with 20 homers, while Reynolds is second with 16.

Cruz’s 32.0% strikeout rate is his highest since his rookie year in 2022, while Reynolds’ 26.6% K rate is the worst full-season mark of his career (excluding 2020). Reynolds’ 170 punchouts are also the most of his career.

Not surprisingly, both players have seen their batting averages drop significantly this year. Reynolds’ .243 batting average is down 32 points from last season and the lowest full-season mark of his career. Meanwhile, Cruz’s .201 mark is down 58 points from last season and also represents a career-worst.

Getting both players to make more consistent contact will be key to helping the Pirates’ offense improve in 2026. It’s tough for any lineup to succeed when its two best hitters are batting a combined .224, especially when there’s not enough quality bats around them to pick up the slack.

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