ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- It didn't arrive until the very last minute, but at long last, the Pirates' 2022 Opening Day roster is set. And, as expected, the roster looks a lot different than what it was projected to be just one week prior.

Outfielder Jake Marisnick has come aboard. So has catcher Andrew Knapp. Outfielders Greg Allen (left hamstring) and Anthony Alford (right hand) will both miss Opening Day due to injury. Diego Castillo and Hoy Park are with the team, not just one or the other. Yeah, a lot has happened.

As MLB and MLBPA jointly announced last week, rosters will expand from 26 to 28 players (29 for doubleheaders) with no limits on how many pitchers a team carry. On May 1, rosters will go back down to 26 players with a maximum of 13 pitchers. The roster alterations just won't stop.

But, for now, here's how the Pirates' Opening Day roster shakes out:

Catcher (2): Roberto Pérez, Andrew Knapp
Instead of going with either Michael Perez or Jamie Ritchie as the backup catcher, the Pirates elected for an external option and signed Andrew Knapp. While Knapp does not grade out well by defensive runs saved (-30), he developed a strong relationship with the Phillies' pitching staff, so much so that he was the backup for five seasons. To create room for Knapp, right-handed pitcher Adonis Medina was designated for assignment.

First base/designated hitter (2): Yoshi Tsutsugo, Daniel Vogelbach
Things seemed to click for Tsutsugo once he arrived in Pittsburgh, and the Pirates are hoping that late-season success translates into this season. Vogelbach, who signed a one-year deal with the Pirates with a team option for the second year, provides power and the ability to draw walks as well. Tsutsugo is the better defender of the two, but Vogelbach will see time at first base as well.

Second base (5): Cole Tucker, Josh VanMeter, Diego Castillo, Hoy Park, Michael Chavis
Tucker will see time all around the field, including shortstop and the outfield, but the majority of his time this season stands to come at second base. The 25-year-old hasn’t spent too much time at second with the Pirates, but has one defensive run saved in 69 1/3 innings. To complement Tucker, the Pirates have several options in VanMeter, Castillo and Park, all of whom have spent plenty of time at second base.

Shortstop (4): Kevin Newman, Tucker, Castillo, Park
With Oneil Cruz being optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, Newman will be the team's Opening Day shortstop, barring the unforeseen. Tucker could see time as the infield's captain, as well as Castillo and Park, both of whom will have the opportunity to experience their first Opening Day.

Third base (4): Ke’Bryan Hayes, VanMeter, Castillo, Park
Hayes is the Pirates' third baseman of the present and future, and while a right ankle sprain raised concerns that he might miss Opening Day, Hayes is ready to go. Like second base and shortstop, the Pirates have plenty of options in VanMeter, Castillo and Park when Hayes needs a rest day.

Left field (1): Ben Gamel
Gamel put together a solid season upon arriving in Pittsburgh. Across 111 games with the Pirates, Gamel hit eight home runs with a 105 wRC+, his best numbers since his time in Seattle. Gamel has hit two home runs this spring, including an opposite-field shot in his last plate appearance before the birth of his daughter, Delilah.

Center field (1) : Bryan Reynolds
Not much to say here. Reynolds is coming off a phenomenal season. He was an All-Star starter. He hit .302 with 24 home runs. He finished ninth among position players in WAR with 5.5. Reynolds has, quite simply, become one of the game's best players. Center field will be Reynolds' domain.

Right field (2): Jake Marisnick, Tucker
With Allen and Alford to miss the beginning of the season, the Pirates sought out the services of Marisnick, who has been one of the game's best defensive outfielders since entering the league. Marisnick, who was released by the Rangers earlier this week, has spent most of his time in center field, but is plenty familiar with both corner spots as well.

Starting pitcher (5): Mitch Keller, José Quintana, JT Brubaker, Bryse Wilson, Zach Thompson

Bullpen (9): David Bednar, Heath Hembree, Duane Underwood Jr., Anthony Banda, Chris Stratton, Wil Crowe, Dillon Peters, Aaron Fletcher, Miguel Yajure

With the shortened Spring Training and the inability for pitchers to completely ramp up as normal, manager Derek Shelton has noted that the Pirates’ rotation will be “fluid” throughout the season. Pittsburgh’s emphasis appears to be having several pitchers who can cover bulk innings as opposed to defining starters and relievers.

The Pirates will have their pitchers who have traditional mid-to-late-inning roles -- Bednar, Stratton, Hembree, to name a few. Others, such as Thompson, Wilson and Peters, could find themselves in “bulk” roles. That might entail being used as a traditional starter, or that might be entering the game out of the bullpen early and eating up several innings in relief.