While the Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t make the playoffs this year, many former members of the organization are still making their mark on October.
According to Andrew Fillipponi of 93.7, 16 former Pirates made the postseason with other teams this year, including several stars.
In the AL Wild Card Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, for instance, both teams’ closers (Aroldis Chapman and David Bednar) pitched for Pittsburgh’s bullpen in 2024. Chapman saved Game 1 for the Red Sox after joining them in free agency last winter, while Bednar saved Game 2 for the Yankees after being traded to New York in July.
Ke’Bryan Hayes and Caleb Ferguson, who were also moved at this year’s trade deadline along with Bednar, made the playoffs with their new teams as well. Hayes reached the postseason for the first time with the Cincinnati Reds, while Ferguson made it with the Seattle Mariners.
Tyler Glasnow, who began his career with the Pirates, is back in the playoffs with the Los Angeles Dodgers after helping them win the World Series last year. He pitched in relief during the Dodgers’ NLDS Game 1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.
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Like Glasnow, Jameson Taillon also started his career with Pittsburgh but reached the postseason with the Chicago Cubs. He started Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, helping the Cubs advance to the NLDS.
The Milwaukee Brewers, who had the best record in baseball this year, have the most former Pittsburgh players of any playoff team with three (Quinn Priester, Jose Quintana and Nick Mears). The Padres and Detroit Tigers were the only postseason teams without a former Bucco.
There are other ex-Pirates playing for a championship this fall as well, giving Pittsburgh fans plenty of familiar names to cheer for this month.
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Featured image via Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images