Connor Joe shows defensive versatility, looks to find a role in return to Pirates

When the Pittsburgh Pirates traded for Connor Joe in December, it wasn’t lost on him that it provided a full-circle moment in a baseball career that required a circuitous route to the majors.

It marked a return to the organization that drafted Joe 39th overall in the 2014 MLB Draft. When traded to the Atlanta Braves for Sean Rodriguez in August 2017, Joe admits it “really threw me for a loop.”

It was more like a Laser Loop, as Joe would zip to three more teams in the next two years. The Braves sent Joe to the Los Angeles Dodgers a month later for international bonus pool money. The Cincinnati Reds selected Joe in the 2018 Rule 5 Draft. The Reds traded Joe in March 2019 to the San Francisco Giants, where he made his major-league debut only to be returned to the Dodgers a few weeks later.

“When I got drafted, my dreams of big-league baseball was always at PNC Park in Pittsburgh,” Joe said in December. “You get to learn the business side of baseball really quickly. So, now to to come back after being with different organizations and having to experience the big leagues, I’m really excited. I’m excited to play in Pittsburgh. I’m excited to show up to PNC every day.”

The Pirates sent minor-league right-hander Nick Garcia to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Joe on Dec. 18, giving Joe a chance to contend for a spot as their fourth outfielder and a backup first baseman.

Upon arriving for spring training at Pirate City, Joe looked around a clubhouse and saw former minor-league teammates in JT Brubaker, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Mitch Keller and former Rockies teammate Chris Owings. The faces weren’t the only thing familiar to Joe.

“I can’t tell you that I did think about ever being back here, but the fact that it’s happened is awesome,” Joe said. “It’s cool to be back. Pirate City really hasn’t changed much, but the organization has. It’s definitely a better feel around here nowadays.

“The positives I’m embracing about the Pirates this time around is they’ve poured into the development. They’re providing resources for players to get better on the baseball field. The focus is on baseball, winning baseball games. Not that it wasn’t before, but it’s more heightened focus now. It’s really good, the way the organization is trending, the moves they’ve made.”

As familiar as Joe was with being dealt, he couldn’t help but follow their offseason transactions. When the Pirates signed five-time All-Star and 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen in January, Joe knew it would create even more competition for him in the outfield but was excited to see the Pirates were bringing in proven veterans.

Joe, 30, enters his 10th season of professional baseball but is coming off his first full season in the majors. After being diagnosed with testicular cancer in February 2020 and undergoing chemotherapy, Joe returned to slash .238/.338/.359 with 20 doubles, four triples, seven home runs and 28 RBIs in 111 games last year. He became a Coors Field favorite before suffering a season-ending hamstring injury in early September.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington cited Joe’s combination of on-base percentage (.346 career), strikeout rate (20.8%) and defensive versatility — he’s played both corner outfield spots and first base — as motives for making the move to bring Joe back to the club.

“Connor’s ability to play both first and the outfield and be a really good matchup against left-handed pitching in particular gives us on-base ability and gives (Pirates manager Derek Shelton) some options,” Cherington said. “Again, as we talked about lengthening the lineup, we could see him playing a lot. We can also see him combining with other guys at different spots. He’s got a reputation as a gamer, someone who plays the game the right way and plays hard.”

While Joe hasn’t hit much this spring — he’s batting .211 (4 for 19) with two doubles and one RBI in Grapefruit League play — he has played right field, first base, designated hitter and left field for the Pirates. Joe entered Sunday’s game against Atlanta in the fifth inning as a pinch runner for Ji-Man Choi, then stole second and third base and scored on Jack Suwinski’s home run to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

Joe is trying to find a role with the Pirates, one that allows him to finally get a chance to play at PNC Park wearing their home whites.

“I’ve played a lot against the Pirates the past couple years and seen the uber young talent they have. It’s really impressive. But also you saw spurts where the youth showed,” Joe said. “To have that group here — (Carlos) Santana, McCutchen, Rich Hill, Choi, Austin Hedges — is really exciting. It’s going to be a great mix of high-upside talented youth and really established veterans that have had success in the big leagues and know how to do it the right way. I’m excited to be part of it.”