PHILADELPHIA — Nick Solak had saved it cool speaking to the media Friday afternoon, simply hours away from his Pirates debut in an 8-4 loss to the Phillies at Residents Financial institution Park. However on the finish of the scrum, when reflecting about that feeling of getting a call-up to the Majors once more, the veteran utilityman began preventing again tears.
“This would be the first time my daughter will get to see me enjoying within the huge leagues,” Solak stated.
Shea Solak is 1 1/2 years outdated. Her dad is 30. Baseball could be a merciless sport when you get within the upper-20s, and alternatives can turn out to be scarce. Solak hadn’t appeared in a Main League sport since 2023. He hadn’t had an enormous league at-bat since 2022. One other likelihood in The Present was hardly a assure.
The excellent news is there may be all the time one method to doubtlessly create a possibility: mash. Solak did precisely that, terrorizing Worldwide League pitching. In 32 video games with Triple-A Indianapolis, Solak hit .393 with six house runs and a 1.077 OPS, en path to profitable Indianapolis’ Participant of the Month honors in April.
In the meantime, within the Majors, the Pirates have struggled to get a lot going. It’s been 21 video games since they scored greater than 4 runs on a given evening. They entered Friday final within the Majors with solely 135 runs scored. The outfield wanted a lift — particularly with Oneil Cruz being out of the lineup the previous 4 video games with decrease again discomfort — so that they determined to roll the cube on Solak.
“He’s having a heck of a 12 months, and to get him up right here and have the ability to see what he’s received up right here [is exciting],” supervisor Don Kelly stated. “… Simply needed to remain inside himself, come up right here, put the barrel on the ball and do the issues that he does.”
To make room for Solak, Ji Hwan Bae was optioned to Indianapolis and infielder/outfielder Michael Helman was designated for task. Whereas the Pirates’ bullpen would falter within the seventh and eighth innings Friday, Solak a minimum of made that first at-bat again within the Majors, singling to left.
Solak had performed 5 years within the Majors earlier than Friday’s return, the primary 4 with the Rangers. He confirmed promise in his rookie cameo in 2019, however regressed through the abbreviated 2020 marketing campaign. He received a stable look in 2021, getting 511 plate appearances over 127 video games, however his .677 OPS and -6 defensive runs saved at second base weren’t sufficient. The Rangers signed Corey Seager and Marcus Semien that winter, closing off the center infield to only about everybody. Solak was a utilityman and ultimately a journeyman, altering organizations 5 instances in 2023 alone.
That a lot heartbreak and beginning and stopping would problem any participant’s resolve. Solak is aware of this sport is filled with ups and downs, and he used that have as his drive to work in direction of this subsequent alternative.
“I feel being a bit bit older now, a few of that maturity [has helped],” Solak stated. “I’ve all the time had a very good help system round me. They’ve all the time helped. However actually, I feel it is simply all of the issues I’ve skilled on this sport have taught me quite a bit. A few of these issues aren’t the very best issues, however they’ve taught good classes that I can study from.”
The sport has taught Solak a lot. He’s making an attempt to use it, even when it’s easy classes on the plate, like not making an attempt to do an excessive amount of. Pair that with resilience, and he can do this within the Majors once more, with Shea watching.
“I simply present up on daily basis and go to work and attempt to do my finest,” Solak stated. “Quite a lot of these issues are out of your management. For me, it is simply displaying up and doing my finest wherever I used to be at.”
