3 Pittsburgh Pirates taking advantage of their 2024 Spring Training action

One question that will always be asked regarding Major League Baseball Spring Training, is whether or not players' stats should be taken with a grain of salt or not. This same question is likely running through fans of the Pirates already this Spring. There is really no correlation between how players perform in Spring versus the regular season. However, one thing is for certain it is better for players to perform well rather than not.

This might seem obvious but why knock a player performing well in Spring for doing what said player is supposed to be doing, producing? Essentially any camp battle for a position is likely going to be based on this. For instance, the Pirates have a camp battle for the starting second base job. The battle is between Jared Triolo, Liover Peguero, and Nick Gonzales. All three have Big League experience so what will give one the edge over the other two? It has to be who performs best, who actually earns the job.

Now there is always fools gold which is why many say to take Spring stats with a grain of salt. Former first-round pick Kevin Newman hit over .600 during the 2021 Spring Training schedule. He would go on to have a batting average of just .226 for the 2021 season. Still, Newman's performance that Spring made him the clear-cut shortstop for the 2021 season. So who are some players that are taking advantage of Spring Training so far? Let's take a look:

So far this Spring, Jared Triolo, a 26-year-old infielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is making a strong case for himself as the frontrunner for the starting second base position. Triolo, who had an impressive rookie season in 2023 with a batting average of .298, seems to be continuing his momentum into the new season. Many wondered if it was a flash in the pan or if Triolo truly could be a future everyday player for the Bucs.

Triolo's performance in the spring games indicates his potential to contribute significantly to the team's success. In his recent appearances, he has demonstrated solid offensive capabilities, with a batting average of .400 and an on-base percentage of .455. Additionally, Triolo has displayed power at the plate, evidenced by his slugging percentage of .800 and an impressive OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) of 1.255.

These statistics suggest that Triolo is not only maintaining his form from his rookie season but also possibly improving upon it. One question about Triolo was whether or not he would be able to show more power in his approach. So far he has a home run and double which is good to see. Overall his play bodes well for his prospects of securing the starting second base job for the Pirates in the upcoming season.

Henry Davis, a 20-year-old catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates, is aiming to bounce back from a mixed performance in the previous season. In 2023, Davis faced challenges due to a hand injury that impacted his offensive production, ultimately preventing him from catching.

However, in the 2024 spring training, Davis is determined to demonstrate his capabilities both offensively and defensively. Despite the setbacks of this past season, Davis is making a strong statement with his performance this spring.

With a batting average of .500 and an on-base percentage of .539, Davis is proving his offensive potential early in spring training. His slugging percentage of 1.083 and an impressive OPS of 1.622 further solidify his contributions at the plate. These are numbers that fans want to see from the former first overall selection.

Davis is also showcasing his skills behind the plate, aiming to dispel any doubts about his ability to be a productive catcher. Although the sample size is small, his performance in spring training suggests that he is making strides toward becoming a more well-rounded player.

Davis needs to overcome his past challenges and his promising display in spring training indicates that he is on the right path to establishing himself as a valuable asset for the Pirates, both offensively and defensively. There is a lot to like about Davis and he looks to have put in a lot of work this offseason. Hopefully, he can stay healthy.