Pirates Prospects Daily: With Jared Triolo Back, Where’s The Best Fit For Him?

After a four game rehab stint in Bradenton, Jared Triolo found himself in the Indianapolis Indians lineup for the first time this season on Tuesday.

One of the best defensive players in the minors at third base, Triolo has also racked up the hits over the past two seasons working his way up the ladder.

Now in Triple-A, he finds himself one step away from a Major League team that seems like it could use a spark – both offensively and in the field.

So, what would be the best way to use the former Minor League Gold Glove third baseman?

His best position is obviously blocked. He saw time as at first base in the spring before his injury, and he has previous experience at shortstop and center field throughout his minor league career.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. What a play with the glove by Jared Triolo. Saves a run from scoring with a diving stop and throw #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/37WqTMipn0

— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) August 6, 2022

With Oneil Cruz out currently, the Pirates have struggled to find an short-term answer at shortstop, cycling through a combination of Rodolfo Castro, Tucupita Marcano, and more recently, Chris Owings.

Although Triolo is an elite defender at third base, that doesn’t mean it translates automatically – remember in most cases you end up at third if your range can’t handle shortstop.

Triolo committed five errors in 70 total chances across 155 innings last year in Altoona while playing shortstop. For his career, he’s played 349.1 innings at short, with his previous experience going all the way back to 2019 in the New York Penn League.

For him to take on a full-time role, at least until Cruz would get back, at a position he’s played 41 games in his minor league career – on a team that’s still currently fighting to stay in first place, seems unrealistic.

He has been a hitting machine over the past couple of seasons. Since the 2021 season, Triolo has picked up 236 hits across 225 games played, including this year.

Triolo, has a great approach, can hit the ball into the gaps, and has long as he doesn’t have any residual effects from his surgery, will be knocking on the door to the majors very quickly.

If the last couple of games have shown anything, the Pirates could use a spark – both offensively and defensively. Right now, when fully healthy, there aren’t many other players in the upper levels that could provide that kind of impact more than Triolo can.

Prospect Notes

— Owen Kellington was fantastic in his three innings of work Wednesday night. He’s still working on a pitch limit, so throwing 20+ in the first inning limited how deep he was going to be able to go.

Sure is! pic.twitter.com/BwZNvIaO4p

— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) May 10, 2023

Regardless, he allowed just two hits, one run, and one walk while striking out five. His curveball, which I talked about the other week, got three whiffs on eight swings and had a 48 CSW% (called strike/whiff rate). So, nearly half of the 21 curves he threw were either a called strike, or a whiff.

— Making his first start in a couple of weeks, Jared Jones made it back-to-back appearances without allowing a walk. A weird play in which he ran into the Akron player that was stuck in the rundown extended the inning and cost him the run, as well as his ability to go deeper into the game.

Jones has made four starts now this year, the first two he walked seven total batters – and now has zero in his last two.

— I thought a brief break to reset would be really beneficial for Javier Rivas, who has really been struggling with strikeouts this season. Turns out he just needed to play a couple of games at home again.

In the first two games of this series against Lakeland, Rivas has gone 5-for-8 with a home run and five RBI. He also hasn’t struck out while walking once. He’s played really well at third base as well while Termarr Johnson has taking the shortstop duties for the first two games of the series.

Daily Video Rundown

Sammy Siani with a 3 run home run to open things up in the first. Greensboro up 5-0 #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/V837nsj5Kf

— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) May 10, 2023

I’ve talked about how the Greensboro outfield have really been playing well early on, and Sammy Siani furthered that cause, hitting a three-run home run on Wednesday.

This is the raw power I talk about from Rodolfo Nolasco. FB outer half, drives to right center for a home run #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/HPdM1kqh35

— Anthony Murphy (@__Murphy88) May 10, 2023

Another outfielder in the lower levels, Rodolfo Nolasco has been mashing since coming back from an injury. He picked up his second home run on the season Wednesday.