Hits Are Coming. Clutch Runs Aren’t. First Impression of 2026 Pirates.

On this episode of Bucco Brew, we give our first real thoughts on the Pirates through the opening series of the season. The offense has shown signs of life and the hits are there, but the big hit hasn’t come often enough and it’s left this group searching for runs in key spots. We also dive into Carmen Mlodzinski’s first look as a starter in 2026, including the early impact of his new splitter and curveball and what it could mean moving forward. Then we wrap things up with Jim’s trip to Indianapolis to watch the Indians and some of the Pirates’ top prospects, with a special focus on Konnor Griffin and why he continues to be one of the most exciting names in the system.