14 days until the Pittsburgh Pirates hold their first spring workout

There are now just two more weeks until the Pittsburgh Pirates start Spring Training 2018, just 14 more days until Pirate baseball

Spring Training is right around the corner. In just 14 more days, the Pittsburgh Pirates will dispatch their pitchers and catchers to the fields of Pirate City in Bradenton for their first workout of the spring. Just two more weeks until Spring Training begins.

14 is the number of home runs that Pirate shortstop Jordy Mercer belted during the 2017 season. With his 14 home runs, Mercer put together his third double digit home run season in four tries.

In 2017 Jordy Mercer finished third on the team in games played with 145, finishing behind just Josh Bell (159) and Andrew McCutchen (156). The 14 home runs Mercer launched in 2017 was a new career high, as was his 9.1 percent walk rate.

Despite the career years in terms of home runs and walk rate, Mercer still struggled overall offensively on the season posting a .308 wOBA and an 88 wRC+. Also, even with his strong walk rate, Mercer owned just a .326 on-base percentage in 2017.

Defensively, Mercer continued to be his steady but not flashy self. He posted a .982 fielding percentage in 2017, but, once again, his range was an issue as he owned a -1.9 UZR/150 and he was responsible for -1 defensive runs saved (DRS).

Jordy Mercer is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2018 season. When you combine the Pirates having shortstop prospect Kevin Newman at Triple-A with the fact that the Pirates and Mercer have had extension talks stall in the past, 2018 will almost assuredly be Mercer’s last in Pittsburgh. This would bring Mercer’s six-year run as the team’s shortstop to an end.

The now 31-year-old Mercer is slated to earn $6.75 million in 2018.

Next: The Pirates should sign Carlos Gonzalez

We are now just two weeks away from the start of Spring Training 2018 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Just two short, yet long, weeks.