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Colin Beazley's Pirates chat: 03.13.26
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Colin Beazley
12:31
Hey all, welcome to my second Pirates chat. Joining from Pirate City where I'm hoping to see a couple prospects play this afternoon. Fire away...
JollyRoger8
12:31
i must have accidentally hit send before I was finished. Starting over: The big story this spring has obviously been Konner Griffin. However the most dominating performance has been the Password. Offensively, defensively, plate discipline and on the base paths. He has nothing to prove in AAA. How can the Pirates find a spot for him on the opening day roster. He needs to be in the lineup if they want wins.
Colin Beazley
12:32
Hey JollyRoger. I agree, Konnor Griffin is the big story but Password has been impressive. I just don't see how he can make the opening day roster because there's not a spot for him. The Pirates will be starting O'Hearn in right, Cruz in center and Reynolds in left most days... Password needs to play.

He's been impressive, but I'm not bumping any of those three.
Smokey Burgess
12:33
A trifecta of questions: Will Henry get a hit this spring? 😁Will Alika Williams be our starting SS until Griifin is ready? Do we sign Griffin or Skenes to long term contracts?
Colin Beazley
12:36
Ha. In order:
  1. He's got to, right? He's hitting the ball harder and he'll start to play more consistently as the spring goes on. I'm sure it'll happen at some point.
  2. No, I'm expecting Nick Gonzales to be the starting shortstop. I don't expect them to create a 40-man spot for Alika over Konnor Griffin... though I will say, the notion of Alika being a Pirate isn't as ridiculous as it was. I still don't think it's happening, though.
  3. Skenes, no. Missed their chance there. I do think a Griffin deal can get done. Don't know if negotiations have started, though I'm expecting them to happen, and if so, where the sides are at. However, I think those talks will happen and I'm optimistic something can be worked out.
George T
12:36
Hi Colin, Is it just me or does it look to you also that the Pirates our not giving Konner Griffin a real shot to make the team directly out of spring training.  I very rarely see his name in the box scores.
Colin Beazley
12:37
Hey George, thanks for the question. Konnor Griffin has definitely been given a chance -- he has 26 spring ABs, third on the team. He also hasn't been sent down in three rounds of roster cuts. The Pirates are clearly giving Griffin the opportunity to play, and he's played a lot.
12:38
Have a lot of questions in the queue but I think I'll get to all of them. Keep 'em rolling...
Jim M
12:39
Colin, Do you think it’s possible Ben Cherington will attempt to trade for a third baseman
Colin Beazley
12:40
Hey Jim. Attempt to, definitely. Whenever we talk to Ben Cherington he's always talking about how the Pirates are always looking to improve, as all teams are. But I'm not expecting a major deal to get done.
Lab in Whitney
12:40
Hi Colin....love the chats! What is the future of two #1's ?? Temarr Johnson and Seth Hernandez? Where will they start 2026 and when do you expect them to make the big team  (if ever...) ??
Colin Beazley
12:45
Hey Lab, thank you. I'm enjoying doing them, though I'm definitely debating between doing a mailbag or a chat in season. Open to feedback there...

They both have bright futures. Termarr I'm expecting to start the season in Indianapolis. He impressed in spring camp and will need to be added to the 40-man roster before the Rule 5 deadline in November, so he very well could make an MLB debut this year. He's still just 21 and will be a big leaguer.

For Seth, I'd expect him to start in Low-A. I don't expect him to be rushed through the system, though if he dominates like many think he can, that could change. It's important to remember that he's a high school pitcher and is several years away (I think MLB Pipeline projects a 2028 debut for him). Very, very few high schoolers ran through the minors the way Konnor Griffin did/is doing.
George T
12:46
Hi Colin, With the moves made this offseason do you see a winning season and a higher production from them this year?
Colin Beazley
12:46
Hi again George. Not sure what the definition of higher production is, but I do expect the Pirates to be better this year. That'll probably be around .500 ball, though... but I'm optimistic they end the year with a winning record.
Pittaz
12:47
An “immaculate inning “ is when the pitcher strikes out the side in 9 pitches. With pitch counts being so sacrosanct shouldn’t it be getting the side out on 3 pitches?
Colin Beazley
12:48
Immaculate is perfection from a pitcher - nine pitches, nine strikes. A three pitch inning requires the batter to screw up, both with three consecutive outs and with the third batter swinging at a third consecutive first pitch... which even a little leaguer knows not to do.
Wayward
12:51
Colin, thanks for the chats.  At this point in camp has anyone/anything surprised you?
Colin Beazley
12:53
A couple thoughts... Konnor Griffin's power has been great to see. I hadn't seen him hit before this. ... Jhostynxon Garcia has been better than I anticipated. I was expecting to see a prospect, but he's someone who will be MLB ready once the Pirates need him. ... I was surprised Hunter Barco added three new pitches. Thought he might add something but wasn't expecting that many. ... Carmen Mlodzinski has also looked better as a starter than he did last year.
Gene
12:53
Who do you think will be the 5th starter to open the season.
Colin Beazley
12:55
Figured I'd tease that with my last answer. I've projected Barco for the last two roster projections, just because I've been more impressed by him than Urquidy. That said, he still has to earn the role and perform well for the rest of camp, including his start tonight. I think it'll be one of those two.
demosthenes98
12:55
What difference, if any, do you think Don Kelly will make in his first full season as manager?
Colin Beazley
12:56
The vibe around camp is different. I think the players needed a positive voice last season, which Kelly was able to provide. Definitely a different culture before and after Shelton's firing.

I think that positivity was something the players needed where they were at last year, so it'll be interesting to see if Kelly changes anything this year or if that remains the best tone.
demosthenes98
12:56
Ben Cherington has been the GM of six consecutive losing Pirates teams. Why should we not think he will GM a seventh?
Colin Beazley
1:01
I'm not here to say this year will be different and that fans should believe. I'm not here to say that Ben Cherington made up for the last six years with this offseason. In honesty, I thought that he would be let go at the end of last season.

I do think Cherington made some good moves this offseason. I do think that the overall attitude at camp has been positive this year and that players are more confident in this team. The goal this year is pretty clear: winning baseball and making the playoffs. I think there's a chance that happens, but it's up to you on if you believe it'll happen.
DZ
1:02
Can you please give us the pronunciation key to The Password’s first name?
Colin Beazley
1:02
From the Pirates game notes: JOES-tin-son. Man, am I excited to hear that in a Yinzer accent this year.
epiballo
1:03
McCutchen signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers - putting on your 'future specs,' will Cutch be on the Rangers team when the Pirates visit them in April?
Colin Beazley
1:04
I do. I think that he has a role on the Rangers, where it seems they plan on platooning at DH. He can have that part-time role there, one that wasn't available in Pittsburgh.
epiballo
1:05
Hi Colin - thanks for the chats! We knew Skenes would do well in the WBC, but how are the other Pirates doing on their respective national team? Thanks!
Colin Beazley
1:06
Hi epiballo, thanks for the message! I wrote about that for an article that came out this morning. You can read that here: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2026/03/13/pirates-wbc-ske...
OldDuffer
1:06
Alika Williams seems to be having a decent spring training. Is he finally coming around and would it be worth keeping him around.
Colin Beazley
1:07
I don't think he'll be part of the opening day roster -- he really has to impress to justify re-adding him to the 40-man roster. But it's certainly a positive to have productive minor league depth. Plus, if injuries happen, you can do worse than Williams.
JuniataKid
1:07
Has Alika Williams actually figured things out at the plate and is there a chance he’s coming north? I know, I know. It’s spring. Still, he’s a solid defender at short, so will they give him another MLB shot?
Ryan
1:08
Good afternoon Colin what do you think about the play of Alika Williams so far i think he has looked good and should be on the opening day roster
Colin Beazley
1:08
Figured slightly too late I might as well put the Alika questions together... he's looked solid. But I'm not putting him on the opening day roster at this point.
russellhalloffame34
1:09
How does work stoppage affect multi year deals? And years of service before free agency?
Colin Beazley
1:11
This is a good question, one I've tried to research mid-chat. My understanding is service time stops if games are missed during a lockout. That said, it all depends on what the two sides bargain. Service time is something that could end up being negotiated if in fact a full year is missed.

And that said... I don't expect a full year to be missed.
demosthenes98
1:11
Do you have a favorite band we can ask you about if we want a changeup (pardon the pun) from baseball questions, sort of like how Jason Mackey has the Grateful Dead?
Colin Beazley
1:13
Don't worry, I'm pro-puns.

I'm not as big of a music guy as Jason is, but I'm happy to talk non-baseball in here. Listen to a lot of different things, from country to rap when I write to a whole lot of Noah Kahan. He shared some Billy Strings and Grateful Dead with me in our weeks working together, but I don't think it's a habit I'll steal from him.
DizzyD
1:13
Does Termar Johnson still project to be part of the Pirates future? He hasn't really progressed through the minors very fast for a #4 first round selection.
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