Jake Mangum’s Pirates breakout couldn’t be coming at a better time

Give Jake Mangum the key to the city of Pittsburgh. The Pirates outfielder who was the "other player" acquired in the Brandon Lowe trade quickly became a fan favorite, and now his bat is finally starting to heat up.

Mangum's first two months in a Pirates uniform didn't go as planned. As recently as Friday, he was hitting just .247 and frankly not adding much to a lineup that otherwise ranked as one of the best in baseball. But this weekend, Mangum flipped the script, and his average is near .300 following eight hits in three games. Against the Astros on Tuesday night, Mangum had four hits and two steals. The man is red hot.

As great as the Pirates have been offensively this season, one thing they are not is defensively sound (especially in the outfield). Oneil Cruz can fall asleep in center. Ryan O'Hearn lacks range. Bryan Reynolds is league-average at best. Thus, having steady contributors behind all three is key.

Pittsburgh had a tough time giving Mangum consistent at-bats since he entered June with an OPS close to .600. After just a few games, Mangum has increased that number to nearly .700, which is at least closer to league average over the long haul.

When asked about his recent resurgence, Mangum kept is short and sweet on Tuesday night. "It's about time I started playing better," he told Pirates insider Jason Mackey.

Jake Mangum's recent breakout can help fix a fatal Pirates flaw

As talented as the Pirates are offensively and in the rotation, they have a couple of fatal flaws in the bullpen and defensively that could come back to haunt them long-term. If Mangum can serve as a reliable backup outfielder and defensive replacement (one who doesn't force a black hole in the lineup), then he can solve at least one of those problems on his own.

Mangum's brand of baseball isn't for everyone. He's scrappy, gets on base the old-fashioned way, and isn't afraid to show emotion over what some fans would consider a small accomplishment. Running out an infield single? Hoist the cone.

The 30-year-old lefty has found his niche in this league. While it's only his second year in the majors, Mangum is a glue guy. He is a rallying force any clubhouse can get behind, whether he's contributing offensively or not. But the Pirates are a top-5 offense in all of baseball in runs scored. These days, they don't miss a beat when Mangum is in the lineup.

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