Pittsburgh’s new Pirates are off to a hot start

Q: What is the Pittsburgh Pirates' current record in the 2026 season?

The Pittsburgh Pirates currently have a record of 14-10.

Q: Who are the key players contributing to the Pirates' success this season?

Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn are key contributors, with Lowe hitting seven homers and O’Hearn ranking in the top ten for batting average.

Q: How has Marcell Ozuna performed since joining the Pirates?

Marcell Ozuna started slowly but has begun to improve, recently hitting a three-run homer and a two-run dinger in consecutive games.

Q: What impact have the Pirates' offseason signings had on the team?

The offseason signings, particularly of Lowe and O’Hearn, have significantly upgraded the lineup, contributing to the team's strong start.

Apr 17, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Ryan O’Hearn makes the catch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images | Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images Through the early part of the season the Pittsburgh Pirates have been enjoying a lot of success, with a lot of credit going to their transformed lineup. At 14-10 the Buccos offseason moves are already paying off as they are in the top ten of the latest MLB Power Rankings. Brandon Lowe was the headliner in the Pirates’ trade with the Tampa Bay Rays in December, and that move was an immediate upgrade for Pittsburgh’s revolving door of temporary second basemen. With Lowe the Pirates got a top ten second baseman in baseball who is a huge power threat. The 31-year-old has consistently been one of the best hitters in baseball since his first major league season in 2018. Aside from his rookie season and his injury shortened 2022 season, Lowe has never hit less than 10 homers in a year. In 2021 Lowe had a career high 39 homers. Lowe’s start to 2026 has been very productive. He’s currently slashing .267/.375/.600 and already has seven homers. Lowe has been a bright spot in Pittsburgh’s lineup, and “Bam Bam” looks to keep on knocking in runs. was another part of the trade, and while his Major League career is largely just getting started, he has already proven to be a spark plug when he’s on the field. With the Pirates, the 30-year-old outfielder has played primarily in a platoon role, appearing in 18 games so far. 2025 was his first season in the Majors and he showed to be a player with a knack for contact hitting and speed on the base pads, totaling 27 stolen bases and a .296 batting average with the Rays. This year with the Pirates, Mangum has appeared primarily in left field and has a perfect fielding percentage. In his 18 games Mangum has performed consistently with a .300 batting average, 15 hits and three steals. For the first time in a decade, the Pirates signed a free-agent to a multi-year contract when they signed Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year $29 million contract. Coming off of his first All-Star season, O’Hearn provides another veteran bat to a lineup that was in desperate need of a makeover. The Sam Houston State product is off to arguably his best start to a season in his career. He is currently ranked in the top ten in the National League for batting average, on base percentage and on base plus slugging percentage. In the bigger picture of Pittsburgh baseball, O’Hearn represents the fact that the Pirates are making a conscious effort to build a winning team. O’Hearn had multiple suitors in free-agency, but him choosing Pittsburgh signifies the belief he has in the team and the culture that the organization is trying to now build. It’s very possible that this signing proves to be very impactful for the future of the franchise. The last big signing that the Pirates made in the winter was the addition of to serve as the team’s primary designated hitter. The 35-year-old DH is a three-time All-Star, a one-time Gold Glove defender and a two-time Silver Slugger. Despite his age Ozuna brought a pedigree to the Pirates that was more impressive than most of their signings in recent history. With that being said, Ozuna has largely looked past his prime. To start the season, he has mostly looked lost at the plate, and has been more of a liability than a point of strength for the team. Despite the slow start that Ozuna has had, he is starting to turn things around. Ozuna’s first homer with the Pirates was a three-run blast that tied the contest against the Nationals on April 16. Against the Rays on April 18, “The Big Bear” looked like he had come out of hibernation by hammering a two run dinger to extend the Pirates’ lead. Is Ozuna the player that he used to be? Likely no. Father Time makes no exceptions. Is he heating up? He has certainly looked better at the plate, where even his shortcomings are looking productive. Though he’s not the player he used to be, Ozuna can still provide meaningful offense for this Pirates squad. The Pirates still have a long season ahead of them, but to this point their offseason spending has really worked out as we are seeing the most exciting version of the Buccos in quite some time.