What a difference an offseason makes. The Pittsburgh Pirates have gone from a historically bad lineup, one that ranked in the absolute cellar in runs scored (583), home runs (117), and OPS (.655), to a group that is showing signs of competency.
Acquiring Brandon Lowe was a masterclass in resource utilization, bringing in a legitimate 30-homer threat to bat from the left side for a team that desperately needed an infusion of pop. In signing Ryan O'Hearn, the Pirates get an offensive jack-of-all-trades who brings contact, on-base, and the occasional power surge to the table.