It’s been a rough several years for the Pirates. Since 2015, the last time the Bucs were in the playoffs, they have had only one winning season. In two of those years, they lost more than 100 games. The Pirates are below .500, and it’s fairly likely that they won’t make the playoffs, or even be in the win column at the end of the year.

During these times, we look for a miracle to turn the club — maybe a player who has exceptional skills and the ability to instill confidence in his teammates, lift the team up and inspire hope in the fans; a player who may be the missing piece in the puzzle as well as the glue that brings the team together and returns it to greatness.

A player like Roy Hobbs.

In the movie “The Natural,” Roy Hobbs is a young “can’t miss” baseball player who loses his way on a trip to try out for the Chicago Cubs. He is shot by a femme fatale who wants the notoriety of having killed the best ball player ever. He recovers, then disappears due to his injury and a sense of shame that he let down his family and friends.

Years later, despite his age and being haunted by what could have been, Hobbs returns to baseball. The tight-fisted owner of the struggling, last-place New York Knights sees him play and signs him to a contract for $500. The manager refuses to play Hobbs until one day when he has him pinch hit, and Hobbs not only homers, but hits the ball so hard that the cover comes off. The old rookie gradually becomes a superstar, lifting the entire team to a race for the pennant.

In many ways, the New York Knights are like the Pirates. They have been one of the poorer performing teams in the league for several years. They are made up of a few journeyman players whose best years may be behind them, along with several promising young players who have potential but lack confidence and experience. They could use someone like Roy Hobbs, whose talent and confidence could inspire them and have them begin to believe in themselves and play at a top level.

Is there a Roy Hobbs out there, finding his way to Pittsburgh? Possibly a player who was a star in high school but fell off the track to the big leagues?

Maybe this real-life Roy Hobbs still follows the game and has joined an amateur league, and he and his teammates — and opponents — realize his talent is something special. One day a Pirates scout hears about this older phenom from his young son who has seen Hobbs play. The scout goes to a game, becomes a believer and schedules a tryout with the team.

Despite doubts about his age and time away from the game, Pirates management sees his talent and takes a chance on him. As in “The Natural,” both the other players and fans are skeptical and view him as a publicity gimmick. True, the story of a former local baseball star returning to the game and playing for the hometown Pirates would be a sure bet to attract fan interest, which would not be lost on management.

But our Hobbs proves himself and rallies the team, inspiring confidence in both players and fans. The team’s fortunes turn around.

Is he out there? Someone the Pirates could serendipitously “discover” and provide with a shot at the major leagues while also giving the Pirates a chance to be a contender? Probably not, but it is fun to hope.

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