10) The Offseason: While not as exciting as the summer, the offseason has already made a major impact in what we have seen so far. There is a long way to go, but the additions of Lowe, O’Hearn, and Mangum appear to be (can I get away with it?) …home runs. With Ozuna starting to heat up, it seems like Cherrington has done a 180 with this offense. We needed to do something to support our pitching staff and that’s exactly what happened months before a pitch was thrown in the 2026 season.
9) Mangum’s Laser: This one I admit is a bit biased because of the angle I had watching it live, but I thought it might be good to give a little love to some defense since it has had such a rough start. Mangum gunning down CJ Abrams at the plate in the 8th inning of a tight ball game gave PNC Park a jolt of electricity. Who knew the pesky speedster was carrying a (I’ll try again)…a Magnum. The Buccos went on to lose a game they should’ve won, but one of our guys making a play like that is the stuff special summers are made of.
8) Lowe’s Big Day in Chicago: Brandon Lowe, on a windy day in Chicago went 2 for 4 with a Grand Slam and another home run on top of it. So far, he has been the best hitting second baseman in the major leagues. Despite Lowe’s big game, the Pirates fell short which kept this game (I’m going for it)…Lowe on this list.
7) Oneil’s Big Day in Chicago: You may be asking yourself, “Wait, didn’t I just read about a Pirate having a big day in Chicago?” You would be correct. The day before another Pirate, a player named Oneil Cruz had a monster game. Going 4 for 5 with not 1, not 2, but 3 stolen bases, Cruz vaulted himself into the “Is it finally happening for him?” conversation. He’s had a great offensive start to the year and this game it was fun to watch him (not again)…Cruz.
6) Pirates Take a No Hitter Into the 7th: In the second series of the year in the 7th inning, Bubba Chandler, Yohan Ramirez, and Hunter Barco had yet to surrender a hit to the Reds at Great American Ballpark. The Sportnet Pittsburgh broadcast team decided it was a good idea to not only mention, but show highlights of a combined no hitter from Francisco Cordova and Ricardo Rincon. The very next hitter, Trevino singled. Greg Brown, to his credit, took full responsibility for this gaffe. And I’m sure it would never occur again.
5) Paul Skenes Takes a No Hitter Into the 6th: You may be asking yourself, “Wait, didn’t I just read about the Pirates going deep into a game with a no hitter?” You would be correct. This was the lone win against the Padres at PNC Park, snapping their winning streak against us at our beloved North Shore destination. You may also be asking yourself, “Wait, didn’t I just read about the Sportnet Pittsburgh broadcast team mentioning a no hitter and it being immediately broken up?” You would be correct. Joe Block decided to mention it on the broadcast leading to a hit. What a (oh boy)…Blockhead. And this one was at PNC Park! Can we all agree to not talk about no hitters while they’re occurring?! This is Little League stuff!
4) We Locked Him Up: This was a bit anti-climactic, but it’s still very significant nonetheless. On April 8 we signed our biggest offensive prospect, a 19 year old, to the largest contract in team history that will keep him a Bucco for a very long time. This is something I never thought I would see in my lifetime. Hopefully it becomes business as usual so we can see full careers play out in Pittsburgh. It is strange to have a top ten moment being someone signing a (another one?)…Konntract.
3) Nick Yorke Walks It Off: In only the second game of the young season we got a dramatic victory. Nick Yorke walked it off with a double against the Orioles in the Bottom of the 9th. It may not seem as significant as some other items on this list but moments like that can really set the tone for the entire season. It was a team win, with sometimes overlooked contributors coming through in the clutch. Who doesn’t love a good walk off? But wouldn’t it be easier to just score ten runs an inning…read on.
2) The Big Inning: In the bottom of the sixth, in the first game against the Nationals at PNC Park, the Pirates plated 10 runners. Not only was this half inning electric, it made a statement. This was the moment I think we all realized that this offense is for real. It had home runs, singles, doubles, and a triple. By the time the Pirates had their fill, the score was 15-1. And what really made it sweet, it was in a game Paul Skenes was pitching. Don’t say he never got any run support.
The NUMBER ONE moment of the season so far…you already know…
Konnor Griffin’s Debut at the Home Opener: It was a packed house on a beautiful day. Jason Kendall and Brian Giles were throwing out the first pitch. Oh, and some news broke that some prospect was playing his first game. Apparently, he was supposed to be pretty good. In his first at bat, Konnor Griffin showed us what has everyone so excited. He doubled in the first run at PNC Park in the 2026 season and the place went haywire. The Pirates ended up winning the game, capping off a day we won’t soon forget; the day Konnor Griffin became a Pirate.
