'Just incredible': Rookie Jared Triolo makes big play for Pirates with over-the-shoulder catch

Following a 78-minute rain delay, the Atlanta Braves were staging a rally. With one out, they had runners on first and third in the sixth inning when Michael Harris II hit a pop fly that floated past third base.

Jared Triolo chased the ball into shallow right field, knowing a run would score if it dropped in fair territory. Triolo made an over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory to save a run, which proved necessary for the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 7-6 win Monday night at PNC Park.

“It was probably the biggest play of the game,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said, “for a couple reasons: No. 1, the situation and where the runners were at, and No. 2, we sat in a rain delay for an hour and 18 minutes. Then you gotta get cranked up and make that play, and I think it shows you how good a defensive player he is.”

What a catch by Jared Triolo! pic.twitter.com/3GiWCIz0tA

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) August 8, 2023

No worries for Triolo, as the Pirates rookie third baseman had wings.

“I knew it was a ball that was kind of in no man’s land out there,” Triolo said. “But, it was right after our little delay we had, and if you knew the amount of caffeine that I drank in that time … so yeah, just kind of ran after it, fell in the glove.”

Carmen Mlodzinski got Ronald Acuna Jr. to fly out to center to escape the inning without damage, and the Pirates congratulated Triolo for his terrific play upon his return to the home dugout.

“It was sweet,” Triolo said. “After I caught it, turned back around and assessed what was going on. It was kind of just a whole bunch of moving parts. But, I mean getting back in the dugout after that and all the teammates hyping me up and saying how awesome it was, it was a good feeling for sure.”

The Pirates have been impressed with how Triolo, a 2021 minor-league Gold Glove winner and two-time Mazeroski Award winner as the best defender in the Pirates’ system, has filled in at third base for one of baseball’s best defenders in Ke’Bryan Hayes. Triolo’s catch was an example of why the Pirates trust him to play any infield position.

“To be honest, I was not even surprised that he caught it,” Pirates middle infielder Liover Peguero said. “I’ve seen him making crazy plays. What made me more impressed was the way that we were sitting here for like 40 minutes, then got out there just a little bit throwing. Then him making that play, I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ This guy wasn’t even looking at anything. He was just thinking about making a play out there. That’s what he did. Seeing that makes you want to do the same thing. It’s just incredible.”

Even more incredible is that it wasn’t Triolo’s only contribution to the win. He went 2 for 3 with a walk, producing a two-run single through the middle off Spencer Strider in the six-run third inning that caused the Braves to pull the MLB strikeouts leader after only 2 2/3 innings.

Triolo is proving he’s not a glove-only player for the Pirates, batting .278 (30 for 108) with a .336 on-base percentage in 31 games. He has only two extra-base hits — a pair of doubles — and still is seeking his first major-league home run but feels good about his play at the plate.

“Just a lot of confidence going up there,” Triolo said. “My approach is working. On the days I’m not hitting so well, it’s mostly in part to my approach. Sticking with that will help me going forward. … I’m not reading into it too much. I think home runs are accidents in the way that I play the game. I’m just trying to drive the ball in gaps. That’s my main thing.”

With a great glove and a bat that is beyond expectations, Triolo has found a place with the Pirates even after Hayes returned from a second stint on the injured list. Triolo made his first career start at second base Sunday at Milwaukee and has minor-league experience at shortstop, first base and center field.

“One of the things we did a really good job of before ‘Tri’ got to the big leagues was we exposed him to a ton of different positions in Altoona and Indy in the last couple years, and it’s really important,” Shelton said. “His athleticism shows. His ability to play defense shows. We will see him at different positions. We’ll see him at third when Ke’s not playing. We’ll see him, I think, at all four infield positions.”

The sooner the better for Triolo, who is embracing the opportunity to get experience at other spots in the infield.

“I do because going forward if it’s ever a big moment or something like that,” Triolo said, “it would be nice to know the speed of the game.”

Like his play on pop-ups, that’s a pop quiz the Pirates are confident Triolo will pass with flying colors.