Pittsburgh Pirates: 2 Breakout Candidates for 2023

The Pittsburgh Pirates are not expected to have too much success in 2023, but they also have some young players that fans should pay attention to. There are two specific players on Pittsburgh who should be viewed as breakout candidates for them. Let's discuss them now.

Oneil Cruz: Oneil Cruz is viewed as having a lot of potential, but he has had trouble finding consistency in the majors. The 24-year-old shortstop had a year of mixed results in 2022, as he had 17 home runs but also a .233 batting average and 126 strikeouts in 87 games played. Cruz has shown signs of brilliance along with his struggles, so let's see if the 6-foot-7 infielder can be more of a consistent threat.

Rodolfo Castro: Rodolfo Castro is another young Pirate that is a player to watch in 2023. The second baseman had a decent season for the Pirates last year, as he had 11 home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .233 batting average. If he can find a bit more consistency at the plate, the Pirates could have themselves another quality infielder on the rise.