Nick Gonzales' breakout season left Pirates with a much bigger problem than his batting average suggests

For years, the Pittsburgh Pirates waited for Nick Gonzales to become the hitter they envisioned when they selected him seventh overall in the 2020 MLB Draft. In 2026, he finally delivered.

Unfortunately, his breakout season also created an entirely different problem for Pittsburgh. Gonzales finished the year batting .303 with a .367 on-base percentage, 167 hits and 61 RBI across 148 games. He was one of just seven qualified players in Major League Baseball to hit .300, establishing himself as one of the Pirates' most consistent offensive contributors.

But while Gonzales was thriving at the plate, his defense at third base was becoming increasingly difficult to overlook. He finished with minus-15 defensive runs saved and minus-11 outs above average, ranking last among third basemen with at least 850 innings played in both categories.

To be fair, Gonzales was put in a difficult position. The acquisition of Brandon Lowe forced him away from his natural position at second base, leaving him to learn third base essentially on the fly. His offensive development shouldn't be dismissed because he struggled with an unfamiliar defensive assignment.

But that doesn't mean Pittsburgh can afford to repeat the experiment.

Pirates can't afford to ignore Nick Gonzales' defensive shortcomings

General manager Ben Cherington acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Gonzales' future during his end-of-season media availability, admitting that the organization hadn't determined where he would play in 2027.

That uncertainty becomes particularly interesting with Lowe entering free agency. If Lowe leaves, moving Gonzales back to second base would seemingly provide the simplest solution. It would allow Pittsburgh to retain his offensive production while potentially improving its defense at third.

However, Gonzales hasn't exactly established himself as an above-average defensive second baseman, either. He posted minus-11 defensive runs saved at the position in 2025.

And replacing Lowe with Gonzales would create another offensive concern. Lowe hit 35 home runs in 2026, compared to Gonzales' six. Pittsburgh would be sacrificing considerable power, even if Gonzales maintains his impressive batting average.

There's also Murf Gray to consider. The Pirates' rapidly ascending prospect hit .305 with 32 home runs across three minor-league levels in 2026, potentially positioning himself as Pittsburgh's future long-term answer at third base.

Gray isn't guaranteed to reach the majors immediately in 2027, much less replicate those numbers against major-league pitching. But his emergence adds another complication to Gonzales' future.

Pittsburgh also has Jared Triolo, whose defensive versatility offers an alternative at third base, even if his offensive ceiling is considerably lower.

The Pirates could consider Gonzales for a utility role or designated hitter opportunities, but neither provides an obvious everyday solution for a player whose bat deserves regular playing time. They shouldn't give up on a 27-year-old coming off a .303 season, but they also can't pretend his defensive struggles are irrelevant simply because his batting average looks impressive.

The Pirates spent 2026 proving they could score more runs. Their next challenge is figuring out how to prevent them. That means finding Gonzales a position where his offensive contributions aren't consistently undermined by his glove.

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