PITTSBURGH - The Pittsburgh Pirates didn't reach their ultimate goal of postseason baseball in 2026, but there is still much to learn before it ends.
The Pirates saw themselves eliminated from the final National League Wild Card spot after the San Diego Padres defeated the Miami Marlins 8-2 at Petco Park on Sept. 18, giving the Pirates no chance of overtaking them.
Pittsburgh had done their part, coming back from 4-0 and 5-2 deficits in the 8-5 win over the Kansas City Royals in the series opener at PNC Park the same day, but it was simply too little, too late.
The Pirates still have eight games remaining in 2026 and aren't going to waste any of that time, as they look to the future.
The Pirates fans waited patiently for the debut of shortstop Konnor Griffin, the top prospect in baseball.
Griffin made great strides in 2025 after the Pirates took him ninth overall in 2024 out of Jackson Prep in Jackson, Miss., and after a solid debut on April 3, they signed him to a record nine-year, $140 million contract extension five days later on April 8.
Apr 3, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Konnor Griffin (6) jogs off of the field after the first inning in his major league debut against the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Pirates rookie has been incredible to watch with his blistering speed, fantastic glove work and defensive play, as well as a strong bat that hits with ease and developing power.
Griffin has missed a great deal of time through injury , as a right elbow strain knocked him out for 22 games from May 31 to June 26, and then a left ring finger sagittal band injury kept him out for two months from July 7 to Sept. 4.
Pittsburgh missed Griffin's production during that time, who has hit .271/.325/.393 for an OPS of .718 in 72 games, with 76 hits, 13 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 31 RBI and 22 stolen bases.
The 20-year-old, the future face of the Pirates, wants to see his team end the season the best way they can.
"Obviously, the goal was to try to finish strong and make the playoffs, but with the position we're in we want to set the tone," Griffin said. "We want to come out and win every game. I don't think anybody's gonna give up. We're gonna keep fighting and see what happens."
Griffin will be with the Pirates through the 2034 season, and his success, along with some other important pieces, could eventually end the 11-year postseason drought in the future.
He sees the importance of a strong finish, as he has 2027 and beyond on his mind.
"I feel like the way we finish this year could take us into next year with good momentum," Griffin said. "But like I said, we're still trying to make the playoffs. That's the goal. We're still in the fight. Until they say we can't make it, we're gonna keep trying to win every game. But it will help going into next year, finishing strong here."
One player who had big hopes for 2026 was Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who was coming off a strong 2025 campaign.
Horwitz underwent right wrist surgery, which knocked him out until mid-May 2025, but ended up as the Pirates best hitter in a difficult 71-91 campaign.
The 2026 season started great for Horwitz, batting .280/.386/.455 for an OPS of .841 in the first half before suffering a left hamstring injury, that kept him out from June 25 to Aug. 2, missing 32 games.
May 30, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz (2) celebrates his leadoff solo home run against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Horwitz has struggled massively since returning, slashing .182/.261/.190 for an OPS of .451, with no home runs and 22 hits in 121 at-bats, with his lack of production a big letdown for the Pirates lineup that needed it.
He remains optimistic, despite the struggles, as he sees the improvement from last year to this year for this Pirates team and that they'll have almost all of their best players back for 2027.
"We've had a strong '26 I'd say," Horwitz said. "The wins and losses weren't always there, but for comparing from what I've seen in the past year, from last year to this year, it'stenfold. There's a lot better baseball being played, a lot better players, and a lot more desire to win. You can feel it in here, and that's why it hurts so much to lose, just because this team is very good."
Horwitz has grown over the past year and the Pirates can still finish with a winning record, which would be their first since 2018.
There's accountability for everyone in the Pirates clubhouse, but the improvements are something that Horwitz will focus on and try to help the team realize that potential next year.
"I think it's just playing good baseball," Horwitz said. "We had high expectations and high hopes for ourselves this year, and we've fallen short of that. And we've got to be better in every aspect of the game. But I think we also learned a lot and [have] shown that we have gotten better. Yeah, we're going to keep learning, just keep pushing, and just one game at a time. Just keep growing and becoming the best versions of ourselves that we can be.
The Pirates can only wonder what would've been had starting pitcher Paul Skenes performed how he did his first two seasons.
The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year and 2025 NL Cy Young hasn't been near his best in 2026, working through a multitude of issues that stopped him from another great campaign.
Sep 18, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) delivers a pitch against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Skenes has a 10-11 record and a 3.91 ERA, nearly twice that of the sub-2.00 ERA he posted in his first two seasons.
The Pirates' ace is still the clubhouse leader, and despite his own personal struggles, he expects everyone to give it their all over the last week of games.
"There's nothing else to do," Skenes said. "We've got, what, eight games left. Can't just not show up anymore. It's not in the character of this team to quit. You saw that today. So we're going to keep fighting, whatever, I mean, we can't control that. There were probably postseasons where a .500 team makes the playoffs. This is not going to be one of them. So all we can do is just keep fighting and keep playing every day."
Pirates manager Don Kelly, just like his players, had postseason ambitions and will also be disappointed with how the season's gone.
Pittsburgh was in the NL Wild Card race for most of the season, until a collapse through late July-mid August, 7-16 with seven straight series defeats, doomed them.
Kelly praised his team for their fight this season and expects much of the same through the end.
"That's the expectation - to go out there and give that same effort every night," Kelly said. "It's what we've done all year. We still have a lot to play for. Going out there every night, it's still the same mindset of, 'Win that game. Win the game that day.' Guys have done a really good job focusing on that, continuing to grind through it. Regardless of what happened the night before, they show up and compete really well."
This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/pirates/onsi as Pirates Remain Confident for 2027, Despite Playoff Elimination .
