Pirates' Hitters Fantasy Baseball Preview | Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz, Andrew McCutchen, Tommy Pham, Nick Gonzalez and More

After taking a look at the top Pittsburgh Pirates' pitchers, it's time to go over the top hitters from the organization.

We've covered the Seattle Mariners (hitters and pitchers), Colorado Rockies (hitters and pitchers), Tampa Bay Rays (hitters and pitchers), Atlanta Braves (hitters and pitchers) and Chicago White Sox (hitters and pitchers) already.

Check out Fantasy Baseball Average Draft Position data for 2025 and get ready for your fantasy drafts by utilizing the FantasySP Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft Simulator. Also be sure to check out the FantasySP 2025 Fantasy Baseball Draft Kit!

Top Fantasy Hitters

A couple Pittsburgh hitters are on the FantasySP Average Draft Position list so far.

Bryan Reynolds leads the way, coming in at pick 91 on average. Oneil Cruz is at pick 97.71 on average.

Reynolds was the top fantasy hitter for the Pirates in 2024. He finished 67 points ahead of Cruz.

Reynolds played in 156 games, tallying a .275 average and .344 on-base percentage. The veteran outfielder also had 24 home runs, 88 RBIs, 10 stolen bases and 73 runs scored. Most of his marks lined up his 2023 campaign, and going into his age-30 season, fantasy owners are expecting more of the same in 2025.

Reynolds is a good secondary fantasy outfield option. I like him best as my third option, but he's not a bad No. 2 guy either. 

Cruz mostly played shortstop last season, but will move to center field for 2025. He should have shortstop and center field position eligibility already, which makes him a bit better fantasy asset.

In 146 games last season, Cruz had a .259 average and .324 OBP. He popped 21 home runs, drove in 76 runs, stole 22 bases and scored 72 runs. 

Many are expecting a breakout season for Cruz, and while I do anticipate him posting his best numbers (if he stays healthy), I don't think it will be a “breakout.” I'm concerned about his strikeouts (181 in 2024), and there's also some durability issues.

Around his ADP though, I think Cruz is a fine pick, especially because you can utilize him at shortstop and in the outfield. I like him as a secondary option at each position, but someone who could start all season at some spot.

Other Starting Options

According to FanGraphs, Reynolds is projected to hit second, while Cruz is third.

Tommy Pham is the leadoff hitter, while Andrew McCutchen is slated to bat cleanup. Joey Bart, Endy Rodriguez, Nick Gonzales, Ke'Bryan Hayes and Isiah Kiner-Falefa are projected to round out the lineup.

Jason Delay is a backup catcher option, while Jared Triolo, Adam Frazier and Joshua Palacios are the projected bench guys. Spencer Horwitz could also be a starting option at first, but is working through an injury right now.

McCutchen was the team's No. 3 fantasy scorer among hitters in 2024, but over 50 points behind Cruz.

In 120 games, McCutchen had a .232 average and .328 OBP. He had 20 home runs, 50 RBIs, three stolen bases and 66 runs scored.

McCutchen has some fantasy appeal if he sticks in the cleanup spot, but the lower average and lack of talented hitters in the lineup keeps him from being a really good option. He could be streamable in standard leagues during hot stretches at the plate.

Pham played with the White Sox, Cardinals and Royals in 2024. He combined for 116 games, finishing with a .248 average, .305 OBP, nine home runs, 39 RBIs, seven stolen bases and 49 runs scored.

Batting leadoff is usually a pretty good place for a fantasy hitter, and if he can get on base even somewhat often, he could score plenty of runs. Driving in runs might be a challenge given the lack of talent at the bottom of the order though. I think Pham is a deep-league option, but probably tops out as one and won't ever be a standard league threat.

Hayes was limited to 96 games in 2024. He had a .233 average and .283 OBP when on the field, along with four home runs, 25 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 38 runs scored.

Hayes has bounceback potential in 2025, but he's just a deep-league option to begin the season. There's durability concerns with him, and if he's stuck near the bottom of the order all season, Hayes isn't likely to do much for fantasy teams.

Bart appeared in 90 games during his first season in Pittsburgh. He had a .265 average and .337 OBP, along with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs and 38 runs scored.

If you double those numbers, Bart appears to have some pretty good fantasy upside. At a weak catcher position, he's worth watching in case he's in the lineup most days. He starts the season as a deep-league option only though.

Rodriguez made his debut in 2023, but did not play in 2024 because of injuries. He had a .220 average and .284 OBP, with three homers, 17 RBIs and 27 runs scored in his 57 games in 2023.

He was once a top-end prospect, so he's worth keeping tabs on in case he steps up this season. Rodriguez will have to hit well to stick in the starting lineup, but could play first or catcher, so he's got a chance to make the lineup in a couple different ways. He's a very deep deep-league option to start the season.

Gonzalez flashed some potential during a 94-game season in 2024. He had a .270 average, .311 OBP, seven home runs, 49 RBIs, five stolen bases and 42 runs scored.

Over a full season at that pace, Rodriguez could have some real fantasy value. He opens the season as just a deep-league option though, but standard league owners should keep a very close eye on him, because he could be quickly scooped up if he starts the season well.

Kiner-Falefa was traded from Toronto to Pittsburgh last season. In 50 games with the Pirates, Kiner-Falefa had a .240 average, .265 OBP, one home run, 10 RBIs, eight stolen bases and 21 runs scored. His 133-game season marks are much better: .269 average, .306 OBP, eight home runs, 43 RBIs, 11 stolen bases and 53 runs scored.

He should have some position versatility, which makes him a decent deep-league fantasy option to start the season. If he gets consistent playing time, he could become a standard league option, just like last season in Toronto.

I have a hard time believing Delay will play much, especially because Rodriguez can catch. 

Triolo had moments last season where he was a decent fantasy option, but things don't look great for him at the outset of the season. His defensive versatility could help him into the lineup if he's hitting, so at least keep tabs on him.

Frazier isn't the player he once was, but because he's delivered in the past, I'd at least keep tabs on him in deeper leagues.

Palacios probably only becomes a daily fantasy asset with playing time, and that looks bleak with Pham, Reynolds, Cruz and McCutchen already at the top of the outfield depth chart.

Horwitz is a deep-league option to begin 2024. He had a .265 average, .357 OBP, 12 homers, 40 RBIs and 46 runs scored in 97 games with Toronto last season. If he can get and stay healthy, he's got a chance to be a standard league option at times this season.

Top Prospects

Konnor Griffin (No. 43) and Termarr Johnson (No. 83) are both on the top-100 prospect list. Griffin's ETA is 2028, so he's got several years of minor league seasoning before reaching the big leagues. Johnson has an ETA of 2026, and with a career .239 average in the minors, there's more work he needs to do before being MLB ready.

Nick Yorke, Tsung-Che Cheng and Billy Cook were some of the team's top-30 prospects from the end of last season who could also factor in this coming season.

Yorke played 11 MLB games in 2024, hitting .216 and getting on at a .286 clip. He has a career .284 average and .365 OBP in the minors, so the team is hoping he can figure things out in the big leagues eventually. Because he could play all over the field, he might be one of the first hitters called up if there's an injury.

Cheng has a .262 average and .361 OBP across four minor league seasons. He has 34 homers and 92 stolen bases across 397 games. Defensive versatility could also help him reach the bigs soon.

Cook played 16 MLB games in 2024, hitting .224 and getting on at the same clip. He has a .251 average and .332 OBP, along with 62 home runs and 90 stolen bases in 376 minor league games. He also can play multiple spots, which could help him back to the big leagues at some point.

Henry Davis, Abrahan Gutierrez, Omar Alfonzo, Aaron McKeithan, Malcom Nunez, Liover Peguero, Alika Williams, Jack Brannigan and Ji Hwan Bae are some other hitters age 25 or younger who are in big league camp this spring.