The Pittsburgh Pirates finished the 2024 season with a 76-86 record, landing them in fifth place in the NL Central. After a balanced first half, the team faltered, with a notable drop in offensive performance.

Young pitchers like Paul Skenes and Luis Ortiz showed promise, while the bullpen found strength in Dennis Santana. However, the offense struggled significantly, with key players like Ke'Bryan Hayes and Henry Davis underperforming.

Heading into the offseason, the Pirates need to bolster their hitting and address the closer situation, particularly with potential free agency losses.

Vaughn Grissom's RBI double and run scored propelled the Boston Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays in their season finale, securing third place in the AL East. Boston finished the season at 81-81, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

Rays manager Alex Cora expressed disappointment over the missed playoff opportunity, while Tampa Bay ended their season at 80-82, breaking a five-year postseason streak. The game also marked the farewell of longtime radio voice Joe Castiglione, honored in a pregame ceremony.

The Pittsburgh Pirates played the role of spoilers by defeating the New York Yankees 9-4, highlighted by a stellar performance from rookie Paul Skenes, who struck out both Juan Soto and Aaron Judge in his final start of the season.

Skenes' ERA now stands at 1.96, the lowest for a rookie since 1950. The Pirates showcased their power with five home runs, contributing to all their runs coming via the long ball. Yasmani Grandal and Nick Yorke were among the players who made significant contributions to the victory.

Paul Skenes made a remarkable first start at Yankee Stadium, throwing two perfect innings and striking out notable hitters like Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, contributing to the Pittsburgh Pirates' 9-4 victory.

With a season-ending ERA of 1.96 and 170 strikeouts, Skenes is a strong contender for the National League Rookie of the Year. Yankees' Luis Gil struggled, allowing four home runs in his outing, but showed resilience post-Tommy John surgery.

The Pittsburgh Pirates' minor league system remains robust even after graduating key prospects like Paul Skenes and Jared Jones. In Bleacher Report's final rankings for the 2024 season, the Pirates' farm system was placed at No. 14, highlighting its pitching depth and the continued development of in-house talent.

Prospects such as Bubba Chandler, Thomas Harrington, and Braxton Ashcraft are poised for a 2025 major league debut. The rankings also featured Tier 1 talents that include Konnor Griffin and Harrington, showcasing the potential of the organization despite recent losses.