Pittsburgh Pirates: Colin Moran Off to a Strong Start

Colin Moran has taken over at first base for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season following the departure of Josh Bell and has gotten off to a strong start

Through the first 11 games of the 2021 season for the Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Colin Moran has hit for a .297/.409/.514 slash line. Moran has hit 2 home runs, driven in 7 runs and posted a wRC+ of 158 through his first 44 plate appearances of the season. These early-season numbers are slightly higher than his career average and Moran’s consistency is something a developing Pirate team will rely on.

Moran has reached base safely in 10 of the first 11 games the Pittsburgh Pirates have played. Having hit clean up each time he has been in the starting lineup, Moran has become an integral part of the lineup. Tuesday night was his first day off this season and he collected a run-scoring hit as a pinch hitter.

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired the former Astros number prospect in 2018 as part of the Gerrit Cole trade with Houston that also brought outfielder Jason Martin, relief pitcher Michael Feliz and former Pirate starter Joe Musgrove to Pittsburgh as well.

Throughout his career Moran was primarily a third baseman, starting 107 games at the position for the Bucs in 2018 and 106 in 2019. He did receive a few starts at first base toward the end of the 2019 season but last season was the first season he began to see regular playing time at first.

The DH was available in the 2020 season so manager Derek Shelton had the ability to keep both he and Bell in the lineup. Moran started 20 games at first base in 2020 and the front office felt confident enough with his ability as Bell was traded to the Washington Nationals this offseason.

With Bell gone and rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes taking over at third base, Moran has converted into an everyday first baseman and has done so nicely, posting a .987 fielding percentage through his first 30 starts at first base.