Which Pittsburgh Pirates Will Finally Deliver? 2026 Breakout Picks

The Pirates’ 2025 season was a frustrating mix of promising underlying metrics and disappointing outcomes. Their team expected wOBA (xwOBA) suggested they were doing far more damage than their actual numbers showed. In this episode, we dig into: Which hitters under-performed their expected numbers (exit velocity, xSLG, xwOBA) and are set up for a rebound. The young players who might finally take a significant step forward. The offense vs. pitching dynamic: with the Pirates pitching better than expected, offense has to improve for 2026. Key changes (approach, coaching, roster) that could unlock a bounce-back. Use Promo Code NS930 for 30% off your first order at https://www.defer.coffee Use Promo Code NS9 for 30% off your first order at https://www.gritily.com Use Promo Code NORTHSHORENINE for $20 off your first order at https://www.seatgeek.com LIKE and SUBSCRIBE with NOTIFICATIONS ON if you enjoyed the show! NS9 MERCH: https://northshorenine.myshopify.com ►Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/NorthShoreNine ►Website: https://www.northshorenine.com ►Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/northshorenine ►TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@northshorenine ►Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/northshorenine ►Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northshorenine ►Discord: https://discord.gg/3HVYPg544m Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.