Don Kelly just confirmed what Pirates fans feared about third base situation

For months, the left side of the infield felt like a question the Pittsburgh Pirates were quietly trying to answer behind the scenes. On Sunday, Don Kelly gave it an answer publicly — and it’s one that likely won’t sit well with a fanbase already uneasy about how Pittsburgh handled (or didn't handle) third base this offseason.

Kelly confirmed that the Pirates plan to open the 2026 season with Jared Triolo at shortstop and a rotating combination of Nick Gonzales and Nick Yorke at third base. In other words: there is no true everyday third baseman. Not yet, anyway.

That reality is exactly what many feared when the Pirates traded away Ke’Bryan Hayes last year and failed to land a replacement despite reported interest in Eugenio Suárez, Isaac Paredes, Mark Vientos and Brett Baty.

Instead of filling the void externally, the Pirates are attempting to solve it internally — by reshuffling pieces rather than adding one. From a pure defensive standpoint, the decision raises eyebrows.

Pirates enter 2026 with uncertainty at third base, and fans saw it coming

Triolo, a 2024 Gold Glove winner as a utility player, has objectively been better at third base. In 2025, he posted 4 Outs Above Average and 7 Defensive Runs Saved at third, compared to just 1 OAA and -1 DRS at shortstop — and that came with more innings at the latter.

Meanwhile, Gonzales has significantly more major league experience at shortstop than third base, making just 10 MLB innings at the hot corner prior to this spring.

Yet the Pirates are prioritizing positional importance over positional comfort. Shortstop is the premium defensive position, and the Pirates believe Triolo gives them the highest floor there — even if it means weakening third base in the process. The organization is betting that Gonzales and Yorke can “learn on the job” at third after putting in offseason work at the position.

It’s a gamble. Not because Triolo can’t handle shortstop — he can — but because it creates a trickle-down effect at third base, where the Pirates now lack both elite defense and proven production. That's the crux of the concern.

The Pirates didn’t just lose a Gold Glove third baseman in Hayes. They chose not to replace him. The fallback plan was always going to be internal flexibility, and now that plan is no longer theoretical — it’s official.

There’s still time for this to evolve. Prospects could emerge. A midseason trade could materialize. Roles could shift if performance dictates — or if Konnor Griffin's inevitable arrival at shortstop moves some pieces around.

But as things stand today, the Pirates are entering the season with uncertainty at one of the most demanding positions on the field. And after an offseason full of near-misses and what-ifs, that uncertainty feels entirely self-inflicted.