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3 potential x-factors that could play roles for the Pirates in 2025

The Pittsburgh Pirates' roster has a handful of players who could be x-factors. Here are three of the best.
ByNoah Wright|
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Jared Triolo

Jared Triolo is a glove-first infielder. He took home the utility Gold Glove in the National League while playing strong defense at multiple positions in 2024. In 374.2 innings at the keystone, he had +6 defensive runs saved and +1 out above average, with a +7.7 UZR/150. Meanwhile, in 527 innings at the hot corner, Triolo had +2 DRS and OAA, with a +6.5 UZR/150. He also has experience at first base and shortstop and even logged two innings in right field, where he made a nice catch.

However, Triolo’s bat didn’t come alive for most of the season. In his first 273 plate appearances of the season, Triolo put up a meager .202/.275/.272 slashline. He struck out 26.7% of the time with an 8.8% walk rate. He rarely hit for power, going yard just four times with an 87.8 MPH exit velocity and a poor 3.4% barrel percentage. This all accumulated into a .248 wOBA and 52 wRC+.

Triolo did, however, end the year on a positive note. His final 173 plate appearances of the season saw him slash .238/.329/.384 with a .316 wOBA and 100 wRC+. He still had a subpar 26% strikeout rate, but walked more frequently with a 10.4% free pass percentage. Although Triolo did not suddenly become a power bat, he smacked five homers and had a .146 isolated slugging percentage. 

This is likely much more sustainable than his 2023 late-season surge. Triolo didn’t have a remarkably high batting average on balls in play, clocking in at .304. He also made decent contact at an above-average rate with an 89.4 MPH exit velocity and 8.4% barrel percentage. His xwOBA also didn't indicate that he significantly over-performed either, sitting at .310 throughout this 173 plate appearance stretch to end the year.

Sure, Triolo isn’t going to be a Silver Slugger finalist, but putting up league-average production with the bat will make him much more valuable. Triolo provided +0.8 fWAR throughout those final 173 trips to the plate. If he keeps up that pace through 400 plate appearances in 2025, that’s about a two-win player and a solid role player for the Bucs.

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