DUNEDIN, Fla. — At any time when a participant in recent times has proven a capability to play a number of positions at a excessive stage, the comparability is at all times inevitable.
“He’s the subsequent Ben Zobrist.”
Jared Triolo has drawn such comparisons by some folks across the sport, however Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton isn’t able to anoint the 26-year-old because the second-coming of anyone.
“That is excessive reward, as a result of Ben Zobrist was a very good participant — and I am very keen on Ben Zobrist, having been in Tampa with him,” Shelton stated earlier than the Pirates’ 8-4 loss to the Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. “Zo had the power to be an on a regular basis participant at a number of positions and be a utility man. I feel [Triolo] goes to have the power to be an on a regular basis participant in a number of positions additionally, however he may functionally go to utility. I feel that is excessive reward, as a result of we’re speaking about most likely the most effective utility guys to play the sport within the final 25 to 30 years.”
Triolo, who’s a part of the Pirates’ second base competitors together with Nick Gonzales, Liover Peguero and Ji Hwan Bae, did his half in Monday’s loss towards Toronto. He launched a double towards Yusei Kikuchi within the first inning, then drilled a single towards Chris Bassitt within the third. The latter got here off the bat at 98.4 mph, an indication that Triolo is carrying his hard-hitting methods from final September into this spring.
“I really feel fairly good,” Triolo stated. “It’s good to see pitchers once more and face a distinct workforce, see a distinct man on the mound, attempt to learn a report, simply work out what he will throw you and have some success doing it.”
Throughout his first stint with the Pirates final summer time, Triolo hit .273 with one dwelling run and a .664 OPS. He registered a 31.3% hard-hit price throughout these 36 video games, however after being despatched down in mid-August, he returned on Sept. 9 and had a 38.5% hard-hit price in his closing 18 video games to shut the season, hitting .350 with two homers and a 1.025 OPS.
“The massive league sport confirmed him the changes that he wanted to make; to his credit score, he went down and made these changes within the Minor Leagues,” Shelton stated. “Crucial factor for younger gamers once they go dwelling within the offseason is can they arrive again and replicate that really feel?”
Triolo credit his work with hitting coach Andy Haines, who inspired him to face taller in his batting stance whereas liberating up his arms, two minor changes which have helped him impression the baseball with extra authority.
“I did not like that it was on the finish of season,” Triolo stated. “Nevertheless it was good that it was on the finish of season as a result of I felt like I may go dwelling, get extra snug in that stance and see how I’ve to get to totally different pitches from that stance. It was good for me, I feel. I positively tried to hold it over within the offseason and this season.”
Whether or not Triolo wins the second base job or finds himself in a Swiss Military knife function, he’s ready to do no matter it takes to assist the Pirates this season. A 3rd baseman by commerce, Triolo acquired a style of each first and second base final yr after Ke’Bryan Hayes returned on the scorching nook. That proved to be an audition of kinds, giving the Pirates the boldness that he may emerge as a super-utility sort.
“I took a number of time within the offseason simply form of working on the totally different positions that I performed final season,” stated Triolo, who can even play shortstop. “I took a number of delight in it this offseason and I’m attempting to proceed that within the spring, for positive.”
Triolo presently has six gloves in his locker, 4 of which he’s breaking on this spring to verify he has the instruments for no matter job is introduced to him.
“Final season, it was form of sprung on me to play first and second,” Triolo stated. “I’ve gloves that truly work this yr and I can mould myself.”
If Triolo winds up in a utility function, the comparisons to Zobrist are positive to proceed so long as he retains hitting.
“Zo began at brief after which began to bounce,” Shelton stated. “If we get him in there, we’ll be in a reasonably great spot.”
