Spring training is over and the Pirates are preparing for their opening day matchup with the Marlins on Thursday afternoon at loanDepot Park. But before we look ahead to the 2025 season, let's look back at some of the biggest winners, losers and other categories that spring training had to offer. 

Biggest winner: Jack Suwinski

I've said all spring that Suwinski was putting together a great spring and there were a few reasons to why that was. First, he was aggressive with his swing so matter the count or the pitch. In the past, when he got behind in the count he got passive and it would result in bad pitch selection and not as aggressive swings. That all changed this spring and he looked to be the Suwinski of old. Another thing is his confidence. He told me at the beginning of spring that it was something he needed to improve and he's shown that by being comfortable in the batter's box and trusting his swing. He finished spring hitting .375/.422/.600 with a 1.022 OPS. He also added one home run, nine RBIs and six doubles.

Biggest loser: Billy Cook

After making his major-league debut at first base last season, Cook had a great opportunity to crack the opening day roster this spring. He has the ability to play all three outfield positions and he plays the game the right way as he brings high energy to the ball park every day. If he would've hit this spring he could've solved the Pirates' first-base conundrum and provided them extra depth in the outfield. However, he only tallied four hits in 25 at-bats and recorded a .644 OPS. Not exactly what you need to do when you're hoping to crack the big-league roster.

Best surprise: Endy Rodriguez

This one was fun to see. After missing almost all of 2024 Rodriguez put together a special spring and cracked the opening day roster for the first time in his career. He was the Pirates' consensus top prospect before blowing out his elbow and arrived at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. in the best shape of his career and he put up the numbers to support his accomplishment. He hit .290/.450/.516 with a .966 OPS. One thing that stood out the most was his patience at the plate as he drew nine walks and had only struck out five times before yesterday's Grapefruit League finale. But, Rodriguez also provides a solution for the Pirates at first base. He's played there in the past and has the athleticism to quickly assimilate to the position after spending most of spring behind the plate. This puts another capable bat in the lineup and fills a position of need for the Pirates while freeing up Jared Triolo to move around the infield as the team sees fit.

Prospect to watch: Hunter Barco

I could take the easy way out with this one and say Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington or even Konnor Griffin, and believe me, they were all impressive this spring. There was a reason that Harrington hung around with the team as long as he did and why Chandler is the top prospect. I'm also excited to see how Griffin develops over the next few years, he really as the tools to be great. But, for this exercise, I'm going to go with Barco. As a 6-4, 225-pound lefty, Barco brings a big frame to the mound and climbed into the high-90s this spring with his fastball. He was intriguing to watch during the three appearances he made this spring, two with the big-league club and one in the Spring Breakout game against the Phillies. He had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and after only appearing in nine games in 2023, he appeared in 18 between Class A+ Greensboro and Class AA Altoona last season. He has the physical makeup and the tools to someday be effective in the major leagues and is one prospect I'll be keeping an eye on.

More to prove: David Bednar

There have been times this spring when Bednar has looked like his former All-Star self and there have been others where he hasn't. His appearance in Fort Myers, Fla. on March 13 against the Twins where he gave up five earned runs and three hits in 1/3 of an inning was his biggest hiccup of the spring. He then turned in back-to-back 1-2-3 appearances where he threw less than 13 pitches and recorded three strikeouts. However, he made one mistake yesterday against the Twins when he left a fastball up in the zone to Byron Buxton for a solo home run. Derek Shelton has remained uncommitted to Bednar as the closer and Bednar still has a ton to prove. His curveball has been sharp over his last few outings but his fastball location is what has hurt him at times.

Biggest roster snub: Kyle Nicolas

I understand why Nicolas was sent down to Class AAA Indianapolis, he has options remaining and the Pirates have plenty of depth in the bullpen. However, Nicolas is guy that has thrown in those high-leverage situations. His fastball has reached into the high 90s and he has the stuff to eventually be a top-tier reliever in the big leagues. Sending him down is a roster-management move and after walking eight batters this spring, Nicolas still has room for improvement. However, I would expect him or Tanner Rainey to be the first reliever called up if there is an injury.

The book is still out: Tommy Pham, Adam Frazier

The Pirates have been very vocal this spring about what veterans like Pham and Frazier can bring to the clubhouse. They are are players who have been on winning teams and have helped change teams around. But, I think the book is still out about how much these two can impact the team on the field. I agree that they are valuable pieces to have around the clubhouse. I've talked to some of the younger players and they've spoken positively about how the pair has helped this spring. However, and I'll preface this with saying, spring training results only mean so much, but their numbers have left a lot to be desired. Pham has hit .174/.345/.283 with a .628 OPS. He's tallied one home run and a triple but also walked a team-high 12 times and struck out nine. Frazier hit .167/.211/.222 with a .433 OPS.