Pittsburgh Pirates: Examining Jared Olvia’s Potential Impact in 2020

Could speedster center field prospect Jared Oliva make an impact for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the shortened 2020 season?

As the Pittsburgh Pirates report to PNC Park to begin to prepare for the upcoming 60-game season, Jarrod Dyson will be the team’s starting center fielder.

However, it is not a guarantee that Dyson will man center field for the entire season. With the Pittsburgh Pirates unlikely to contend and Dyson on a one-year contract, he is a player they could look to move at the August 31 trade deadline.

If Dyson is moved, this could open the door for center field prospect Jared Oliva. Oliva, after all, may play a big part of the Pirate future, and 2020 needs to be about the future.

While Oliva will not be one of the 40 players working out at PNC Park with the start of spring training 2.0, this does not put him in any less of a position to make an impact in 2020. Just being a member of the team’s 60-man player pool does that.

Oliva is coming off a strong season with Double-A Altoona in 2019. He hit for a .277/.352/.398 slash line to go with a 123 wRC+ and 36 stolen bases.

As you can conclude from the stolen base total, speed is a big part of Oliva’s game. This is a big reason. why he rates out as a plus defender in center field. FanGraphs gives the Pittsburgh Pirates center field prospect a 60 grade for his speed, 55 for fielding and a 50 for throwing. So, in addition to having a strong glove in center field, Oliva has a good arm as well.

While the long term center fielder of the future for the Pittsburgh Pirates likely remains Travis Swaggerty, in the short term the answer could be Oliva. If Dyson is traded before the August 31 trade deadline, this could open the door for Oliva to make his MLB debut.

If not for the coronavirus pandemic, Oliva would have started the season with Triple-A Indianapolis. More than likely, he would have been a slam dunk to make his MLB debut in 2020. While that may no longer be a guarantee, the opportunity still exist for him to make an impact with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020.