Ryan Vilade found friendly competition in Pirates outfield with teammate Canaan Smith-Njigba

Ryan Vilade was standing within earshot when Canaan Smith-Njigba was asked about his old teammate becoming his new teammate with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Smith-Njigba raised his voice, making sure Vilade heard every word.

“That’s my brother for life. I love my man Ryan Vilade,” Smith-Njigba said, with a smile. “Ryan brings that confidence, that swagger. He has that dog in him where he doesn’t like losing. He’s always going to go 100%, balls to the wall. That’s what I appreciate about him.”

Long before the Pirates claimed Vilade off waivers from the Colorado Rockies, he played travel ball with Smith-Njigba for the Dallas Tigers since the age of 10. They grew up within 45 minutes of one another, Vilade in Frisco and Smith-Njigba in Heath, and their families grew close while watching them play every weekend.

“It’s awesome, sharing the dream with him,” Smith-Njigba said. “He’s a great guy. I love him, love his family. … It’s just awesome having someone who I grew up with and who I call my brother next to me in the locker room.”

The only downside is that both are outfielders on the 40-man roster who were competing for the same spot on the Opening Day roster. After Vilade batted .167 (3 for 18) in 11 games this spring, including an RBI single in the ninth inning of a 7-6 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, the Pirates optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Vilade, 24, started spring training as a long shot in a crowded outfield. Drafted in the second round as a shortstop by the Rockies in 2017, he played 229 games there and 46 at third base before moving to the outfield in 2021. After being claimed by the Pirates on Nov. 9, he watched them acquire Connor Joe from Colorado in a trade and sign Andrew McCutchen to a one-year, $5 million contract.

“It shows a lot if you get claimed by a team off waivers, so I wasn’t really worried about it,” Vilade said. “I’m just going to do my thing, enjoy the game and have fun. I work hard. I get after it. I wasn’t really worried about anyone signing (with the Pirates). I was greatly excited that I was a part of those.”

The Rockies’ No. 4 prospect entering the 2021 season, Vilade dealt with a strained right quadriceps last year and slashed .249/.345/.352 with 15 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 38 RBIs in 99 games at Triple-A Albuquerque. The lack of power production as a corner outfielder became a problem for the 6-foot-2, 226-pound Vilade.

“I feel like there’s a lot in there, for sure,” Vilade said. “For me, the hit tool is what’s gotten me where I am today. There’s definitely more power in there.”

Vilade spent the offseason working with Pirates hitting coaches Andy Haines, Christian Marrero and Tim McKeithan to clean up his stance and swing, making adjustments he hopes will help the power show up.

It started with closing up an open stance and switching from toe-down, heel-up to more of a step. Vilade’s focus was on contact point, finishing high and trying to hit balls to dead center.

“For me, I have a flat swing so my barrel is going to be through the zone,” Vilade said. “If I can get that contact point up front, that’s where that launch angle people think of will show.”

Vilade is going to stay versatile while waiting for a chance to return to the majors. He played four games in left field, three in right, two in center and twice served as designated hitter in Grapefruit League play this spring and is one of a handful of players who took reps at first base in practice. Vilade made his major-league debut with the Rockies in 2021, going 0 for 6 with a walk and a strikeout in three games, but is still searching for his first major-league hit.

The son of a longtime coach — his father, James, was head coach at the University of Dallas and University of Texas at Tyler and a hitting coach at Double-A Frisco — Vilade believes his bat is still his best tool.

“At some point, hitters hit, man,” Vilade said. “It’s hard to put hard contact on pitching nowadays. That’s what I go up there to do. I just hit, have hard contact and whatever happens, happens. I can’t control it once it leaves my bat. I’m just going to be me and stay motivated.”

Vilade knows that it doesn’t hurt to have a hype man in Smith-Njigba, even if they are competing for playing time with the Pirates. Vilade also played with Cal Mitchell for Team USA in high school and knows Joe and infielder Chris Owings from his time with Colorado.

“We compete against each other every day. We enjoy it. We’re not really worried about it. We’re just going out and having fun,” Vilade said. “I gravitate towards Canaan more just because I’ve known him my whole life. He’s helped me out with how things are run here and the people here, so it’s great to have him.”