Five Pittsburgh Pirates Players That Need To Step Up In 2019

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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 28: Jung Ho Kang #16 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on in the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on September 28, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Third baseman Jung Ho Kang

The Pirate offense was inconsistent at best during the 2018 season. A big reason for this was a lack of power. The team finished eighth in the National League in slugging percentage (.407), 10th in ISO (.154), and 13th in home runs hit (157).

Other than Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco no one on the team hit more than 20 home runs last season, and they only had six other hitters reach double digit home runs. The team needs to find more power somewhere in 2019.

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The source of this needed power could be third baseman Jung Ho Kang. After missing all of 2017 due to being unable to acquire a work visa, Kang finally returned to the United States and pro baseball in 2018. However, Kang’s woes would continue as wrist surgery cost him over two months of his season.

Following the surgery, Kang joined the team for their season ending series in Cincinnati and he went 2-for-6 at the plate. Had it not been for the wrist surgery, Kang, who had been hitting well in the minor leagues, likely would have returned to the Pirates some time last July.

If Kang can be anywhere near the hitter he was in 2015 and 2016, then the team’s lack of power will be helped in a big way. And, luckily for the Pirates, Kang looked like this hitter in the minor leagues last season.

In 843 career plate appearances Kang owns a .274/.355/.482 slash line to go with a .361 wOBA and a wRC+ of 129. His ISO is a healthy .208, as are his 4.8% home run and 10.9% extra base hit rates.

A healthy, productive Jung Ho Kang could be a bigger boost to the Pirates offense in 2019 than any realistic offseason acquisition could have been.