What Is 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates finished the MLB season with a 62-100 record, their worst win total since 2010. They played at PNC Park and were managed by Derek Shelton.

Key Facts

The 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates had a record of 62 wins and 100 losses, finishing last in the NL Central.
Manager Derek Shelton led the team for the third consecutive season in 2022.
Their home games were played at PNC Park, located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
The Pirates' worst season since 2010, when they also lost over 100 games.
Star player Ke'Bryan Hayes played 94 games but missed time due to injury.

Overview

The 2022 Pittsburgh Pirates season marked another challenging year for the franchise in Major League Baseball. Competing in the National League Central, the team struggled to maintain consistency and finished with one of the worst records in the league.

Despite flashes of strong individual performances, the Pirates were unable to overcome deficiencies in both pitching and run production. Their 62-100 record reflected ongoing rebuilding efforts and a focus on developing young talent for future seasons.

Record of 62-100: The Pirates posted their worst win total since 2010, finishing in fifth place in the NL Central.
Manager Derek Shelton: In his third season at the helm, Shelton emphasized player development amid a difficult on-field campaign.
PNC Park: The team played all home games at the 38,782-capacity stadium on Pittsburgh’s North Shore.
Opening Day was April 7, 2022, when they lost 8–1 to the St. Louis Cardinals on the road.
Final game on October 5, a 7–2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, closed out a 162-game season.

Performance & Season Details

The 2022 campaign was defined by injury setbacks, underperformance, and a heavy reliance on inexperienced players. While the front office prioritized long-term growth over immediate competitiveness, results on the field were disappointing.

Offensive struggles: The team ranked 28th in MLB in runs scored with just 606 total runs for the season.
Starting pitching issues: The rotation had a collective ERA of 4.78, among the worst in the National League.
Mitch Keller’s rebound: After previous struggles, Keller posted a 3.91 ERA over 180.1 innings, showing signs of progress.
Ke'Bryan Hayes played only 94 games due to a wrist injury but hit .280 with 13 home runs when healthy.
David Bednar served as closer, recording 24 saves but with a high 4.56 ERA due to late-season fatigue.
Traded veterans: At the deadline, the Pirates moved players like Richard Rodríguez to rebuild the farm system.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 2022 Pirates stacked up against recent seasons and division rivals:

Season	W-L Record	Division Finish	Runs Scored	Team ERA
2022	62-100	5th, NL Central	606	4.78
2021	61-101	5th, NL Central	528	4.88
2020 (60-game)	19-41	5th, NL Central	231	5.62
2019	69-93	4th, NL Central	687	5.12
2018	82-79	3rd, NL Central	729	4.35

The 2022 season showed slight improvement in runs scored compared to 2021 but continued poor pitching performance. While wins increased by one over the prior year, the team remained far behind competitive NL Central clubs like the Cardinals and Brewers.

Why It Matters

Though not a playoff contender, the 2022 season played a crucial role in Pittsburgh’s long-term strategy. The emphasis shifted from short-term wins to evaluating young talent and preparing for future competitiveness.

The Pirates used 14 rookies during the season, giving them valuable MLB experience.
Rebuilding through the draft remained central, with Pittsburgh holding high draft picks in 2023 and 2024.
Player development focus helped identify core pieces like Oneil Cruz, who debuted in 2022.
Attendance at PNC Park dropped slightly, averaging 18,838 fans per game, reflecting fan fatigue.
Front office decisions signaled patience, avoiding major free-agent signings in favor of internal growth.
The season reinforced the need for improved scouting and international player acquisition to accelerate the rebuild.

While 2022 was another losing chapter, it served as a transitional phase for the franchise aiming to return to contention in the latter half of the decade.