Pittsburgh Pirates: Pinch Hitters Come Through& Other Takeaways From Sweep Of Padres

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 23: Kevin Newman #27 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is mobbed by teammates after drawing a bases loaded walk off walk in the eleventh inning during the game against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park on June 23, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 23: Kevin Newman #27 of the Pittsburgh Pirates is mobbed by teammates after drawing a bases loaded walk off walk in the eleventh inning during the game against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park on June 23, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Pirates
PITTSBURGH, PA – JUNE 21: Jose Osuna #36 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a RBI single in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park on June 21, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

It was a great weekend for Jose Osuna

He only has 34 MLB plate appearances this season, but Jose Osuna has been really damn good for the Pirates. After a monster series against the Padres, Osuna is slashing .290/.333/.677 with a .387 ISO and a 157 wRC+ this season. He has nine hits with the Pirates, and six of them have gone for extra bases.

With a left-handed pitcher on the mound for the Padres, Osuna started at third base on Friday night and Sunday afternoon. With his performance this weekend, Osuna has certainly earned additional starts against left-handed pitchers.

In his two starts Osuna 4-for-9 with a double and he drove in a pair of runs. This included the game winning hit on Friday night. Even though he was not in the starting lineup, as we discussed above, Osuna still made a huge impact on Saturday’s game with his pinch hit home run.

Osuna has always hit in the minors. He was also the star of Spring Training in 2016 and 2017. Finally, he is showing signs of this hitting translating to the MLB level. If nothing else, Osuna is looking like a great platoon player and bench bat. And quite possibly the best pinch hitter in the National League.