Pirates Three Biggest Winners Before All-Star Break

A handful of Pittsburgh Pirates had a stellar first half of 2024.
Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Bryan Reynolds (10) circles the bases on a two run home run against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at PNC Park.
Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Bryan Reynolds (10) circles the bases on a two run home run against the New York Mets during the fifth inning at PNC Park. / Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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The Pittsburgh Pirates (46-48) will wrap up a roller coaster front half of 2024 this weekend in Chicago. They sit 2.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the National League and have enjoyed a few standout performances through their first 94 games.

Paul Skenes

This one is rather obvious. Skenes has been lights out for the Pirates since they selected him first overall last July. The 22-year-old pitcher wrapped up a historic front half, throwing seven hitless innings against the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers this week.

Skenes is a perfect 6-0 on the season and has fanned 89 batters in just 66.1 innings. He has become one of the most "must-see" players in baseball just two months into his major league career and will be the starting pitcher for the National League All-Star team next week.

Bryan Reynolds

Reynolds has easily been the Pirates' best positional player in 2024. He leads the team in hits (104), RBIs (56), batting average (.274) and home runs (17).

The franchise outfielder has played in every game for the Pirates this season and made headlines in June when he went on an MLB season-high 25-game hitting streak. It was the longest streak from a Pirate since Kenny Lofton hit safely in 26 straight back in 2003. Reynolds will join Skenes in Texas next week as part of his second MLB All-Star selection.

Mitch Keller

Keller may be one of, if not the most, underappreciated starting pitchers in the MLB this season. While many fans have been enchanted by the arrival of Skenes and fellow flame-thrower Jared Jones, Keller has quietly put together a fantastic season.

He already has ten wins on the season (10-5), just three shy of his career-high from 2023 (13), and has struck out 102 batters in 111.1 innings. Keller has been a steady force for a second consecutive season and rounds out what could be a dominant rotation for the Pirates for the foreseeable future.

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