Has Triolo won starting 2B job? It's 'a very safe assumption'
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BRADENTON, Fla. -- It¡¯s not exactly easy to get a move or roster decision out of Derek Shelton before it¡¯s finalized. That¡¯s more than understandable, especially since he and the team have nothing to gain from him speculating or announcing something before the player knows.
But when it comes to the Pirates¡¯ second base competition, the hand has been tipped. Nick Gonzales was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. Liover Peguero was subsequently optioned Friday. Ji Hwan Bae is working back from a hip flexor and should start a running progression early next week, which puts his Opening Day status very much in question.
Therefore, can we assume that Jared Triolo is the winner of the second base job?
¡°I would say that¡¯s a very safe assumption,¡± Shelton said with a grin after the Pirates¡¯ 4-1 win over the Red Sox at LECOM Park on Saturday.
It¡¯s hard to find fault with Triolo being the guy. He¡¯s hit well this spring, recording a .324 batting average and a .919 OPS. A converted third baseman, he¡¯s looking more than comfortable at second base. Plus, he finished last year on a tear after his June debut, recording 2.1 WAR with a .786 OPS as a rookie in 2023.
All of those factors give Shelton plenty of confidence in his young player.
¡°We saw what he did last year in September,¡± Shelton said. ¡°The [swing] adjustment he made when he went to Indy, he carried it over into September. He¡¯s carried it into spring. Someone asked the other day where he has improved defensively. It¡¯s around the bag. Going to his left today on the ball, that¡¯s a tough play for a big-bodied second baseman. He made that really smoothly. He just continues to get better on that side of the field.¡±
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Triolo declined to say much until he got official word from the team that he is the guy, but at this point, it¡¯s a poorly kept secret.
"I just came in with the intent of making the team, getting my legs underneath me and feeling good at the plate,¡± Triolo said. "Taking ground balls everywhere. I feel like I accomplished that, and I'm ready for the season."
The second base competition was arguably the most intriguing on the position player side this year because all four of the main candidates were recently highly rated prospects. They also all came up through the farm system together and have been friends for years, which kept competition from getting ugly.
¡°I think with other guys, you expect in a competition for guys to be jerks about it, but everybody was helping each other out,¡± Triolo said. ¡°I was new to the position, so they were helping me out.¡±
If it wasn¡¯t Triolo, Peguero appeared to be the next choice, but an illness sidelined him recently, which impacted his potential playing time.
¡°We had other people in front of Peggy right now,¡± Shelton said. ¡°We want to make sure that he plays.¡±
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Contreras welcoming new role
Roansy Contreras came into camp with better stuff, more confidence and a chance to earn a rotation spot, but after a shaky spring and some wild outings, he is currently being viewed as a reliever.
Shelton shared the news of the decision Thursday, and Contreras is taking it well.
¡°It¡¯s an opportunity to help the team win, and if that¡¯s the move, I¡¯m good with it,¡± Contreras said via interpreter Stephen Morales.
Contreras¡¯ desire is to earn a rotation spot again, but if the team feels it is in a better spot to win games with him in the bullpen for now, he¡¯s ¡°more than happy¡± to comply.
¡°This is the whole point of this, just to gain confidence in my pitches, myself and just move forward,¡± Contreras said.
Contreras tossed a scoreless seventh inning on Saturday, working around a single and a walk. Contreras walked 14 over 14 1/3 innings this spring.
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Fleming to the ¡®pen
Also moving to the bullpen is Josh Fleming, who tossed a scoreless sixth with a walk and a strikeout on Saturday.
Fleming was initially brought into camp to compete for a starter role, but his last two outings have been just one inning each.
Fleming has recorded a 3.55 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings this spring. His 61.6 percent ground ball rate last year ranked in the 98th percentile of players.