Discover the definitive PNC Park lineup, featuring MVP Andrew McCutchen, Gold Glovers Ke'Bryan Hayes and Starling Marte, and a surprisingly potent first baseman.
Marking 25 years of PNC Park, here is one man's all-time all-PNC Park team:
1B: Garrett Jones
Jones had a solid five-year run with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2009-13. He hit 100 home runs, including a career-high 27 in 2012.
2B: Neil Walker
The switch-hitting Pittsburgh native was a fan favorite because of his local ties. Walker was also productive as he hit .272/.338/.431 with 93 home runs in seven seasons from 2009-15.
3B: Ke’Bryan Hayes
Hayes never lived up to expectations offensively with a .254/.307/.369 slash line and 39 homers over six seasons. However, he has been the Pirates’ best defensive player of the last quarter-century, winning two Gold Gloves.
SS: Jack Wilson
Speaking of defense, Wilson is the best Pirates fielder not to win a Gold Glove during the PNC Park era. Wilson didn’t always contribute much offensively in nine years from 2001-09, but he did have an outstanding 2004 season in which he batted .308 with 201 hits and a National League-high 12 triples.
C: Jason Kendall
Perhaps no Pirates player was hurt more by the move from Three Rivers Stadium to PNC Park than Kendall, who loved spraying line drives into the gap on the artificial turf of the old home.
OF: Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen is unquestionably the Pirates’ best player since they moved into PNC Park. He was the NL Most Valuable Player in 2013 and made five consecutive All-Star Game appearances from 2011-15.
OF: Starling Marte
Often overshadowed while playing next to McCutchen in the Pirates’ outfield, Marte brought plenty of excitement with his power, speed, and defense. He won consecutive Gold Gloves in 2014 and 2015.
OF: Bryan Reynolds
Reynolds has been a steady presence in the Pirates’ lineup since making his major-league debut early in the 2019 season. Reynolds is a two-time All-Star, and the eight-year, $106.75-million contract that went into effect in 2023 was the largest in franchise history until being surpassed by rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin’s $140-million deal signed this past week.
SP: Paul Skenes
It has been less than two years since the big right-hander made his much-heralded MLB debut, but he has already earned a spot on this team. Skenes was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and the NL Cy Young Award winner last season. If the Pirates can afford him, which is doubtful, it seems certain Skenes would finish his career as the best pitcher in franchise history.
RP: Tony Watson
Yes, Mark Melancon and David Bednar each had more than 100 saves in the PNC Park era. However, Watson was consistently excellent for seven seasons from 2011-17 with a 2.68 ERA in 450 games, including a 1.97 mark in 222 games during a three-year span from 2013-15.
Pirates Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pirates. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.