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Pittsburgh Pirates: Potential Future For These Players

By Noah Wright

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: Tyler Beede #48 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on August 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - AUGUST 13: Tyler Beede #48 of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitches against the San Francisco Giants in the bottom of the first inning at Oracle Park on August 13, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Pittsburgh Pirates
BRADENTON, FLORIDA – MARCH 16: Jared Triolo #85 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses for a picture during the 2022 Photo Day at LECOM Park on March 16, 2022 in Bradenton, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

Jared Triolo

When you have young and highly talented infielders like Ke’Bryan Hayes, Oneil Cruz, Liover Peguero, Ji-Hwan Bae, and Nick Gonzales in the upper levels of the minor leagues, it’s easy to overlook Jared Triolo. Triolo has consistently been a quality hitter, posting a 110 wRC+ or greater since making his debut in 2019.

Triolo is currently slashing .277/.372/.401 with a .349 wOBA, and 115 wRC+. His 17.7% strikeout rate is great, and so is his 12.8% walk rate. The only downside is that his ISO clocks in at .125, a big drop-off from 2021 when he had a .176 mark. But to Triolo’s credit, he has been a lot better as of recently.

Since the start of June, Triolo has been batting .285/.386/.464 with an even better 14.4% walk rate and 15.8% strikeout rate. This leads to a .376 wOBA and 133 wRC+. After having a sub-.050 isolated slugging percentage in the first two months of the season, Triolo now has a .180 ISO, showing that he does have some power. If Triolo can get his ISO above .150 before the end of the 2022 campaign, it’ll be the third season in a row he’s had a wRC+ of 110 or greater and ISO of at least .150.

Triolo’s primary position is third base, where he is an excellent defender, but he has also seen time at shortstop and centerfield. The issue is that many of those positions have multiple players, both in the minor leagues and major leagues, blocking Triolo. He’s not going to push Ke’Bryan Hayes off third base, nor will he overtake any of Bryan Reynolds, Jack Suwinski, Travis Swaggerty, or possibly even Ji-Hwan Bae for playing time in center field. Shortstop has an overabundance of players as well.

But Triolo has the skills and athleticism to play wherever the Pirates need him. Triolo has time played in the grass, at the hot corner, and up the middle. He’s displayed pretty solid power, plus plate discipline, decent speed, and an outstanding glove. Personally, I like him at the keystone until Nick Gonzales is ready. But after that, I wouldn’t mind seeing Triolo in a utility role.

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