Gilberto Celestino and Billy McKinney have suddenly emerged as dark horse candidates to go north with the Pittsburgh Pirates. (“Going north,” in this case, is a mere expression synonymous with making the 26-man major league roster. The Pirates open the season on March 28 in Miami against the Marlins. Technically, once they break camp in Bradenton, they’ll go southeast.)
These Dark Horse Candidates Might Go North With The Pirates
Gilberto and Billy Who?
Celestino, 25, is a right-handed batter who has seen most of his major league action in center field. He’s an oddity in that he throws left-handed. He was with the Minnesota Twins organization from 2018-23, which overlaps with Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s time there as Rocco Baldelli’s bench coach. In two seasons with the Twins from 2021-22, Celestino has hit .222/.292/.300, 4 HR, and 27 RBI. However, his minor league record shows he possesses the on-base skills the Pirates covet, including a .385 OBP in 2023. As this is being written, Celestino is 8-for-19 with a grand slam in 10 spring games. (In the video below, the broadcaster erroneously describes it as a three-run homer.)
McKinney, 29, is a left-handed batter who plays all three outfield positions. He’s hit well in the minor leagues, including consecutive seasons when he slugged 16 home runs in 2017 and 2018. However, his bat has yet to translate in the majors. In six major league seasons with six teams, he’s hit .209/.284/.390, 34 HR, and 86 RBI. Most recently, he was with the New York Yankees, for whom he hit .227/.320/.406 in 2023. McKinney was with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2018-20. Pirates general manager Ben Cherington was Toronto’s vice president of baseball operations during that time and would be familiar with McKinney. As of this writing, McKinney is 4-for-13 in eight spring training games, with a .500 OBP. McKinney and Celestino, both non-roster invitees, look like dark horse candidates to make the Pirates’ major league squad.
A Crowded Outfield?
Going into spring training, the Pirates’ outfield looked to be too crowded for a non-roster invitee to crack it. Not anymore. Of course, Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski are firmly entrenched in left and center fields, respectively. That left Henry Davis, Connor Joe, Andrew McCutchen, Edward Olivares, and Joshua Palacios as candidates to play right field. Let’s not forget speedy infielder Ji Hwan Bae, who played some center field last year.
Things Have Changed
But let’s look at what has developed since. Davis was drafted as a catcher and played right field when he was called up in 2023. While he didn’t look comfortable there, it seemed clear that the Pirates’ brass didn’t think he was ready to go behind the plate. It seems crystal clear that the organization wants him to be a catcher. That’s how he’s been used in the spring. That’s where he’ll play in 2024, either in Pittsburgh or the minor leagues. It’s also increasingly clear that although he might play some in the outfield, Joe will be used principally as the right-handed half of a first base platoon. Finally, it appears that McCutchen is again ticketed to be the full-time designated hitter. The Pirates want to proceed cautiously with him after he suffered minor injuries last year and another in spring training.
That leaves Olivares and Palacios as chiefly considered outfielders from the above group. There could be room for a fifth outfielder, especially if Bae doesn’t make the team. In the spring training games, Shelton has been auditioning center fielders. Do the Pirates have room for a dark horse candidate in the outfield? That’s where McKinney and Celestino come in.
Who Can Play Center Field?
Reynolds handled most of the Pirates’ center field duties in 2021 and 2022, while Suwinski was given the job last year. Both Reynolds and Suwinski may be considered only adequate in center field. Late in games with the Pirates ahead, Suwinski was moved to right field, and Bae took over in center. When the left-handed batting Suwinski was rested against a left-handed pitcher, Bae often started in his place. Bae, also a left-handed hitter, was in the odd position of being reverse platooned.
Suwinski led the Pirates with 26 home runs in 2023. He’s not going to be replaced as their center fielder. However, the Bucs could use a backup center fielder to handle the position. It’s a position where Shelton is taking a long, hard look. In the spring, Bae, Celestino, Joe, McKinney, and Olivares have played there. Bae took a bad route to a long fly ball in one game. Joe could handle it well enough, but he’ll be at first base against left-handed pitching. He won’t be an option in center field against lefties, at least not frequently. As for Olivares, a bat-first outfielder, nothing in his record suggests he could handle center field. The corner spots have been enough of a challenge for him.
The Last Word
On the other hand, Celestino and McKinney are natural center fielders and have looked good out there. They are legitimate dark horse candidates to begin the season with the Pirates. One of them has a chance to make the team as a late-inning defensive replacement or backup to Suwinski, especially if Bae fails to win a spot in what has become a hotly contested battle for the second base spot. As a right-handed batter, Celestino would seem to be a logical choice to play when Suwinski is rested. Then again, McKinney’s usage and performance so far suggest he’s in Bradenton for more than a suntan. It will be an interesting subplot to follow over the preseason.
Main Photo Credits: THOMAS BENDER/HERALD-TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK
