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Pittsburgh Pirates: Non-Roster Invitees Who Could Make Opening Day Roster

By Marty Leap

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 29: Blake Weiman #82 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch during the spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Century Link Sports Complex on February 29, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 29: Blake Weiman #82 of the Pittsburgh Pirates delivers a pitch during the spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Century Link Sports Complex on February 29, 2020 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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Jul 9, 2020; Washington, DC, United States; Washington Nationals shortstop Wilmer Difo fields a ground ball on day seven of Nationals workouts at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 9, 2020; Washington, DC, United States; Washington Nationals shortstop Wilmer Difo fields a ground ball on day seven of Nationals workouts at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Utility man Wilmer Difo

The most obvious and likely choice here is veteran utility man Wilmer Difo. While the Pittsburgh Pirates signed Difo to a minor league contract, odds are, it was with the intention that he would crack the Opening Day roster.

Difo is a 28-year-old switch hitting utility man. He has player primarily shortstop and second base in his MLB career, but he has seen time at third base and in the outfield as well. This positional flexibility helps to make Difo a valuable bench player.

In his MLB career Difo has logged 1060 plate appearances in 373 games, all of which came with the Washington Nationals. Difo owns a lifetime .247/.309/.348 slash line and a wRC+ of 70. He was also a member of the 2019 World Series Champion Nationals.

While, as of now, Adam Frazier is still a Pirate, this still seems likely to change by Opening Day. Assuming Frazier is traded, that would all but guruantee Difo a roster spot. With Cole Tucker and Kevin Newman then being the likely starters in the middle of the infield, Difo would join Erik Gonzalez as utility players coming off the bench for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Even if Frazier is not traded, Difo still seems like a safe bet to crack the Opening Day roster. The Pirates could always move on from Gonzalez, or have Tucker start the season at the Triple-A level. Regardless of how things shake out, Difo seems like a safe bet to make the Pirates’ Opening Day roster.

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