Pittsburgh Pirates: Three Hitters Who Had a Strong September
These three hitters had a strong September for the Pirates
![Oct 1, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Jack Suwinski (65) hits](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2724,h_1532,x_0,y_319/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/4/01hbsn4qzdx2fmwgtmr5.jpg)
Some times September stats needs to be taken with a grain of salt. That said, these three hitters had a big final month of the season for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Every season there are players across baseball who put together a strong month of September and help fuel optimism entering the offseason. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, these three hitters fell into that category this September.
Now, September stats are ones that often times are taken with a grain of salt. It's just one month, leading to small sample sizes, and teams play things differently depending on if they are still in postseason contention or not.
That said, you would still much rather see a strong September than not. So, let's dive into looking at three Pirate hitters who had a strong month of September.
Outfielder Jack Suwinski
After flashing great power potential in his first MLB season in 2022, Jack Suwinski was looking to become more of a complete hitter this season. The first full MLB season of Suwinski's career had its ups and downs but ended with him putting together a strong September.
In 103 plate appearances in the season's final month Suwinski hit for a .289/.359/.489 slash line. He posted a 122 wRC+, 10.7% walk rate, 26.2% strikeout rate, and an isolated slugging (ISO) of .200 while collecting 9 extra base hits.
September was Suwinski's best month of the season when it came to strikeout rate, consistent contact at the plate, and getting on base. With this strong final month, Suwinski finished his first full MLB season with a .224/.339/.454 slash line, 112 wRC+, 115 OPS+, and a 2.2 WAR.
Looking ahead to 2024, the Pirates will need Suwinski to build upon his 2023 season and take another step forward. Hopefully, his strong September is a sign of Suwinski starting to take this step, a step that could be a key factor in the Pirates returning to .500 and beyond next season.
Outfielder/Designated Hitter Miguel Andújar
After putting together a monster season at Triple-A Indianapolis, Miguel Andújar earned another major league opportunity in September. There was a lot of intrigue over what Andújar would do with this opportunity. Well, all he did was hit.
It was a small sample size of just 57 PAs, but September was one of the best months of Andújar's MLB career. He hit for a .302/.351/.528 slash line to go with a 134 wRC+. He collected 9 extra base hits, struck out in just 14% of his trips to the plate, and posted a very strong .226 ISO.
Prior to his September it appeared that there would not be much of a future with the Pirates for Andújar. Following his strong finish to the season, however, he could be in a position to compete for an Opening Day roster spot in spring training.
Infielder Jared Triolo
Jared Triolo was not just one of the most impressive hitters on the Pirates in September, he was one of the most impressive hitters in the entire National League. He also played all over the infield in the process.
After struggling at the plate, especially with his power, in the majors over the summer, Triolo's bat exploded in September. Triolo had 72 PAs in September and hit for a .350/.458/.567 slash line. He posted a 178 wRC+, 16.7% walk rate, and an ISO of .217.
Triolo also played all over the diamond in September. He made starts at third base, second base, and first base. His performance at the plate and in the field puts him firmly in the discussion for both the second base and first base job in 2024.
After his strong September, Triolo finished his first MLB season hitting for a .298/.388/.398 slash line with a 118 wRC+, an OPS+ of 116, and a 2.1 WAR. At worst, Triolo should have a spot on the 2024 Opening Day roster as a utility player.
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