Pittsburgh Pirates: What Does the Future Hold for Center Field?

The Pittsburgh Pirates will enter the 2020 season without a long term answer in center field. What could the future hold for the position in Pittsburgh?

For the first time in a decade, the Pittsburgh Pirates do not have a good answer to start the season in center field. After trading former All-Star Starling Marte to the Arizona Diamondbacks during the off-season, the Bucs signed the speedy Jarrod Dyson in free agency to become the team’s primary center fielder.

Dyson is an extremely reliable defender, having a +14 defensive runs saved, 7.9 UZR, 1.3 range runs, a 12.3 UZR/150, and 5.7 arm runs above average last season. But with a weak bat (career 78 OPS+) and already being 35 years of age, Dyson is currently just keeping the seat warm for the next guy in line.

So, who is the next guy in line?

That player is likely 2018 1st round pick Travis Swaggerty. Swaggerty ranks as the 61st best prospect in baseball by FanGraphs. Among all the Pittsburgh Pirates prospects, he probably has the second best glove behind the talented Ke’Bryan Hayes. FanGraphs gives his glove a 55 grade with a future of 60, and his throwing a 60 current and future grade. Both of these make him a top tier defender. Those are better grades than MLB outfielders like Harrison Bader, who had double digits in both DRS and UZR, and similar to that of National League MVP Cody Bellinger, who also reached double digits in UZR and DRS last season.

But the question will be how will Swaggerty’s bat pan out? Last season with High-A Bradenton, Swaggerty batted for a solid .265/.347/.381 line and a 120 wRC+. He did walk at a strong 10.9% clip, but most of his production came in the second half of 2019.

After a weak first half, Swaggerty went on a tear, and posted a .306/.375/.430 line. However, he did post a batting average on balls in play approaching .400, so was he just lucky in the second half? Well, maybe. It was, after all, a 63 game sample size and BAbip requires more than 63 games to give an accurate reading.

The former 1st round pick will be entering his age 22 season. If he keeps up the production he had last season, he could reach Triple-AA by the end of the season, whenever it starts.

Aside from Swaggerty, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a few other center field capable names in their minors. One of those being Jared Oliva. Oliva spent 2019 with Double-A Altoona and turned in a respectable slash line of .277/.352/.398 in 507 plate appearances, which was good for a 124 wRC+. He also posted a .343 wOBA. None of those numbers really deviate from his minor league averages of .274/.348/.408.

Despite his low walk rate, a .350 OBP is very valuable for a guy with his speed. FanGraphs gives the outfielder a 60 speed grade. Last year, Oliva stole 36 bases. He also stole 33 with Bradenton in 2018. Overall, he grades as a slightly above average defender. Currently, he has a 50 fielding grade with a future of 55 and a 50 arm grade. Even if Swaggerty does not pan out as an every day center fielder, the 24-year-old should still find a spot in the Majors as a fourth outfielder, or he could be used as trade bait.

Another potential high-ceiling centerfield option the Bucs have in the minors is Lolo Sanchez. Sanchez did great with Low-A Greensboro last year. In 263 plate appearances, the 20-year-old batted .301/.377/.451 with 20 stolen bags. Good for a 142 wRC+. Although he walked just 6.5% of the time, he struck out at a minuscule rate of 10.6%. But when Sanchez got promoted to Bradenton, he struggled to a .570 OPS and 77 wRC+. The speedy outfielder still is considered a good fielder with a future grade of 55 for both his arm and fielding prowess.

Now, currently, these are the Pittsburgh Pirates best options in a conventional sense. The Bucs could also see a few position changes that shake up the center field picture. Currently, shortstop is looking like a clogged position. Cole Tucker looks like he could be the long-term answer up the middle, and they also have Oneil Cruz on hand. So where does that leave guys like Liover Peguero or Ji-Hwan Bae?

Well, Peguero definitely has the tools to move to center field if need be. Peguero has the speed to cover plenty of ground. Last year, the shortstop stole 38 bags between rookie ball and Low-A. He has a 60 speed grade, but a future grade of 55. Despite that, he still is very quick. Fielding wise, although he has a 45 grade now, it projects to be a 55 grade tool, while his arm also projects to be a 55 grade tool. Bae definitely has the speed, with a 65 speed grade by FanGraphs, but his glove is a different story. He is graded out as an average defender with an above average arm. That might play better in left field or right field, but his bat doesn’t play either corner outfield position all that well. However, he still is only 20, so he could improve if the Pirates needed him to learn outfield.

The Pirates do have a few other center field prospects, but are still ways off from the Majors. One of these players is 2019 draft pick Sammy Siani. However, Siani likely will not reach the Major League level until at least 2024.