Pirates A to Z: Known for his great glove, Jared Triolo outperformed expectations at the plate

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Jared Triolo

Positions: Third base/second base/first base

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Age: 25

Height: 6-foot-3

Weight: 210 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: Batted .298/.388/.398 with nine doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 54 games.

Contract: Not eligible for arbitration until 2027.

Acquired: Selected in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of the University of Houston.

This past season: A 2021 minor league Gold Glove winner and two-time Bill Mazeroski awardee as the best defensive player in the Pirates’ minor league system, Triolo had the misfortune of playing the same position as one of the best defenders in baseball.

“Triolo’s likely going to start the year in Indy,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said, “but if something happened, he can go over there because he’s really, really good.”

What blocked Triolo’s path to the majors, however, was not Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes but rather a fractured hamate bone in his left hand that required surgery. The injury caused Triolo to miss more than a month of action before returning to bat .333 at Triple-A Indianapolis.

“Just feeling more comfortable and getting confidence back in the box, feeling for the swing again,” Triolo said. “My hand is pretty important in my swing. Getting that confidence back has been big for me.”

When Hayes was placed on the 10-day injured list with low back inflammation June 28, Triolo not only made his major league debut but got a chance for extended playing time at his natural position.

Triolo took full advantage, showing a good glove, as expected, while hitting better than anticipated. He batted .268 with a .327 on-base percentage but had only two extra-base hits — both doubles — in 27 games.

“It’s just the role that I was brought into,” Triolo said. “I’ll keep continuing to do it until we get Ke’Bryan healthy because he’s a good piece of our team.”

Jared Triolo making a catch over the dugout railing pic.twitter.com/GvTVNKvppe

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

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

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

Triolo showed how valuable he could be against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 7, when he chased a pop fly by Michael Harris II into shallow left field. With runners on first and third base, Triolo knew that a run would score if it dropped in fair territory. He made an over-the-shoulder catch in foul territory to save a run, which proved necessary in a 7-6 win.

“It was probably the biggest play of the game,” 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.”

Triolo’s first MLB homer was a three-run shot to left field off Cincinnati’s Alex Young in a 4-2 win over the Reds in the first game of a doubleheader at PNC Park on Aug. 13.

FIRST CAREER HOMER FOR JARED TRIOLO!! pic.twitter.com/CDdSnKkRIe

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 13, 2023

Triolo’s versatility wasn’t enough to keep him in the majors, however. When Ji Hwan Bae was activated from the IL, Triolo was optioned to Indy. He spent three weeks in the minors before being recalled Sept. 6, after designated hitter Andrew McCutchen went down with an Achilles tendon injury.

Triolo made a seamless shift to second base, then started taking practice repetitions at first base, a position Triolo had only played in three games in the minors and two Grapefruit League games in spring training.

“They told me I’d for sure get some looks there,” Triolo said, “so I was ready.”

Triolo started at second base Sept. 9 and third base the following day at Atlanta before moving across the diamond, starting at first base Sept. 11 against Washington. Triolo moved to second base in the eighth inning, when the Pirates made several position switches.

Triolo worked with Pirates bench coach Don Kelly and infield coach Mendy Lopez — both former major league infielders — before the game so he felt ready when he saw the No. 3 next to his position.

“It was cool,” Triolo said. “I definitely felt ready for it. It definitely gave me some more confidence.”

Triolo showed even more confidence at the plate, batting .350/.458/.567 with seven doubles, two homers and five RBIs in his final 18 games.

Switching to a more upright stance unlocked some of Triolo’s power, as he posted eight multi-hit games in the final month. That included two doubles in a 3-2 win over the Yankees on Sept. 17, going 3 for 5 with a homer and two RBIs in a 13-7 win at the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 20 and 4 for 5 with three runs scored in the 13-12 win over the Reds on Sept. 23 that served as the biggest comeback victory in franchise history.

The @Pirates win their 3rd straight tonight as they hit 4 HR in a 7-5 win over the Reds. David Bednar picked up his 37th save and after the game, Robby caught up with one of the HR hitters, Jared Triolo. pic.twitter.com/oxeaD0u5pG

— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) September 23, 2023

Shelton credited Triolo for “just really being aggressive and swinging the bat well since he’s been back,” noting that he was doing so whether ahead or behind in the count. Triolo’s bat opened some important eyes in the organization, including one important talent evaluator.

“He’s always been a guy who has good at-bats, sees the ball well, good swing decisions, makes enough contact but maybe not the impact, at least at the lower levels of the minor leagues, that ideally we’d want to see in the big leagues,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on his radio show. “He’s tried two or three different things over the last two years to get to a little bit more impact. More recently, he’s made an adjustment in his posture and allowed that barrel to come through seemingly a little faster and getting to pitches out front. … He’s been driving the ball and getting some extra base hits and home runs.”

Jared Triolo’s 2023 stats (54 G), with rank among other qualified NL rookies in parentheses:

• .298 AVG (2nd)
• .388 OBP (2nd)
• .398 SLG (12th)
• .786 OPS (8th)
• 11.5 BB% (6th)
• 118 wRC+ (4th)
• 1.7 fWAR (8th)
• 2.1 bWAR (8th)
• 1.44 WPA (3rd) pic.twitter.com/DqZLIR0dct

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) October 26, 2023

The future: Of all the Pirates’ touted prospects, Triolo had the best rookie season of any position player and wants to build on that by finding a regular role in the majors.

Although Triolo proved he could play first base, Cherington has expressed a preference to keep him in a super utility role. Not only has Triolo played third base, second base and first base in the majors but he has experience in the minors at shortstop and center field.

With the Pirates agreeing to a one-year contract with lefty slugger Rowdy Tellez, Triolo and Connor Joe are potential right-handed hitting candidates to platoon at the position.

If nothing else, Triolo gives the Pirates an excellent glove to backup the infield corners who can also play the middle infield in a pinch and one who has performed better at the plate than anyone expected.