Pirates depending on younger players to blossom
The Pirates finished the 2016 season with a 78-83 record, slipping below the .500 threshold and missing the postseason for the first time since 2012.
Tasked with making improvements to get the franchise back to October baseball, General Manager Neal Huntington took a measured approach that will rely on incremental improvement along with the advancement of young players to get the Pirates back to the postseason.
Faced with some tough roster decisions down the stretch, Huntington repeatedly chose youth, picking Tyler Glasnow over Drew Hutchison for the final spot in the starting rotation and Trevor Williams over Jared Hughes as the last right-hander out of the bullpen.
If the Pirates hope to close in on the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central, the team will need the young players tasked with bigger roles on Opening Day to not only survive but thrive and turn into the players that they are capable of becoming.
鈥淭hat蘑菇视频 what this organization is all about,鈥� veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had talented guys and prospects for years now. People have to see now first-hand what guys can do. We鈥檙e used to seeing it at this point. It蘑菇视频 where we are as an organization.鈥�
While Glasnow, Williams, Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl will all help the pitching staff, there are a few young Pirates hitters who hope to carve out a role this season as well.
Josh Bell, off a midyear debut in 2016, will likely be the starting first baseman. The switch-hitting 24-year-old had off-season knee surgery and got a late start on his spring. He hit just .116 in the Grapefruit League, and getting off to a hot start could be key for jump-starting his confidence.
Adam Frazier did nothing but hit when he was given an opportunity in his rookie campaign and he蘑菇视频 done the same this spring, knocking the ball around for a .403 average and a 1.117 OPS.
Frazier can play enough defense to be a contributor at multiple spots, including second, third, right and left. When he蘑菇视频 in the lineup, expect him to be the leadoff hitter, which could certainly be the case opening day in Boston.
Jung Ho Kang is still in South Korea, awaiting a decision on his visa application. Reports out of Korea have said that Kang蘑菇视频 entire season is in jeopardy, while Pirates Huntington has said he remains optimistic. Either way, it seems that the Pirates aren鈥檛 counting on any help from Kang any time soon.
Sean Rodriguez continued the Pirates tradition of positional flexibility last season, playing at seven defensive positions while hitting for an unexpected amount of power. He tallied 18 home runs and 16 doubles in 2016. Rodriguez signed a free-agent contract with the Atlanta Braves.
Other departures: RHP Neftali Feliz, OF Matt Joyce, LHP Jeff Locke, RHP Ryan Vogelsong.
Daniel Hudson should solidify the back end of the bullpen and provide one of the very few right-handed arms. Hudson had a 5.22 ERA in 70 appearances with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016. Hudson combines a mid-90s fastball with a curveball and a changeup in a three-pitch arsenal. He signed a two-year, $11 million contract this offseason.
Phil Gosselin is expected to fill the role of Rodriguez, playing defense at every infield position and the corner outfield spots. Gosselin also came over from the Diamondbacks in a trade for minor-league pitcher Frank Duncan. An above-average defender at multiple spots, he can also hit for a average. In his four-year major-league career, he蘑菇视频 posted a .283 average and has been over .300 in three of the last four seasons.
Second baseman Alan Hanson has been one of the team蘑菇视频 top infield prospects for years. He washed out of the shortstop spot at Double A, but is still an above-average defender at second base and third base and has been getting some work in the outfield this spring. Hanson is out of options, so it蘑菇视频 sink or swim time for the once promising prospect. He鈥檒l come off the bench at multiple spots this season.