The postseason has been unkind to the Pirates for quite some time, but this year, it has been flat out cruel. The Pirates may not have qualified for the playoffs, but there are plenty of familiar faces making an impact in October.
On Friday, Daniel Hudson and Mark Melancon picked up saves to even their teams' series. On Saturday, Gerrit Cole tied an American League postseason record with 15 strikeouts. On Sunday, David Freese and Russell Martin sparked a comeback victory for the Dodgers. On Monday, Charlie Morton helped the Rays stave off elimination, getting the win in the process. Former Pirates have grabbed headlines just about every day. It begs the question, how many ex-Pirates made the postseason?
Baseball America recently broke down which teams drafted or signed the 250 players who made their team's postseason roster (eight divisional round rosters and the wild card rosters of the Athletics and Brewers). Pittsburgh had four, a below average number. While that is one way to examine how many former Pirates made the postseason, it does not count anyone who may have come to the team as a major leaguer, were in the farm system at one point or were drafted by the club but did not sign.
Upon a more thorough combing over of those 250 names, I found all the players who passed through Pittsburgh, even if it was just for a cup of coffee. Basically, we are looking for anyone who at any point of their career could have said they were employed by the Pirates. Could we build a roster out of those players? There is one way to find out. Everyone listed played for the Pirates, unless otherwise noted.
ASTROS
RHP Gerrit Cole (Drafted in 2011, minor leaguer from 2011-2013, major leaguer from 2013-2017)
ATHLETICS
OF Robbie Grossman (Drafted in 2008, minor leaguer from 2008-2012)
RHP Joakim Soria (2015)
BRAVES
C Francisco Cervelli (2015-2019)
INF Adeiny Hechavarria (2018)
OF Matt Joyce (2016)
RHP Mark Melancon (2013-2016)
BREWERS
RHP Jay Jackson (Minor leaguer 2014)
RHP Jordan Lyles (2019)
CARDINALS
SS Paul DeJong (Drafted in 2014, did not sign)
RHP Miles Mikolas (Minor leaguer in 2013, was traded before he appeared in a game)
LHP Tyler Webb (Selected in 2016 Rule 5 draft, returned to Yankees before the season started)
DODGERS
RHP Walker Buehler (Drafted in 2012, did not sign)
INF David Freese (2016-2018)
C Russell Martin (2013-2014)
NATIONALS
RHP Daniel Hudson (2017)
RHP Hunter Strickland (Minor leaguer 2009-2012)
INF Trea Turner (Drafted in 2011, did not sign)
RAYS
RHP Tyler Glasnow (Drafted in 2011, minor leaguer from 2011-2017, major leaguer 2016-2018)
OF Austin Meadows (Drafted in 2013, minor leaguer from 2013-2018, major leaguer 2018)
RHP Charlie Morton (Minor leaguer 2009, major leaguer 2009-2015)
TWINS
None
YANKEES
LHP J.A. Happ (2015)
LHP Tyler Lyons (2019)
Every team besides the Twins took at least one former Pirate into the postseason. There are 23 players in total. Not quite enough to make a roster, but certainly a lineup. The position player pool is a bit shallow, but it gets the job done:
2B Turner
SS DeJong
CF Meadows
1B Freese
RF Joyce
LF Grossman
C Martin
3B Hechavarria
Pitcher spot
That lineup probably would not be playoff-worthy over a 162 game schedule, and I had to cheat and put Turner at second base to even complete it, but the pitching staff certainly would be, featuring front line starters and reliable late inning arms. The Pirates could have used a few more of those pitchers this season.
I'll close this Mound Visit with a thought: Now that the Twins are eliminated, a former Pirate is guaranteed a ring at the end of the month.
MORE MOUND VISIT
Oct. 3: The year's worst balls/strike calls
Sept. 6: Frazier has fooled us again
Sept. 4: Hitters attack zone
Aug. 26: Moran’s modest gains
