Who’s at Short?: Pirates transparent with trio that starting job is up for grabs this spring

If requested to disclose the beginning shortstop as spring coaching begins, Pittsburgh Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton’s reply would sound like one thing out of a well-known Abbott and Costello comedy sketch.

I don’t know.

By no means thoughts that he performed third base within the “Who’s On First” routine. For the Pirates, an important place on the sector additionally guarantees to be their best place battle, with three gamers who beforehand didn’t lock down a beginning job combating for the spot.

Erik Gonzalez began the 2019 season at shortstop earlier than struggling a damaged collarbone in a collision. Kevin Newman completed that season because the starter, then started the 2020 season at quick earlier than scuffling on the plate and within the area and getting shifted to second. After taking part in within the outfield final season, Cole Tucker has moved again to his pure place.

Together with middle area, shortstop is one in every of two positions within the beginning lineup that’s up for grabs when right-hander Chad Kuhl takes the mound because the Pirates open Grapefruit League play at 1:05 p.m. Sunday in opposition to the Baltimore Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.

“That’s attention-grabbing,” Tucker stated this week from Pirate Metropolis in Bradenton, Fla. “That implies that we haven’t carried out a very good job of nailing these down the final couple years. However we’re attempting to. I actually wish to win the shortstop job. That’s no secret.”

There is no such thing as a clear-cut frontrunner, Shelton stated, including he was clear with the trio concerning the open competitors.

“We’re all selfless, and we’re all egocentric,” Tucker stated. “All of us need what’s finest for this crew. We additionally need what’s finest for our careers.

“However as soon as the competitors ends, the interior competitors of who’s going to be our shortstop, who’s going to be this, who’s going to be that, we have now 162 video games to go compete and go win as a crew and get higher as a crew and progress as a crew.”

The place Gonzalez brings a very good glove that may play shortstop, second or third base, he has to show he could be constant on the plate.

He had a red-hot, eight-game stretch in early August when he hit .452 with seven extra-base hits — going 4 for five with six RBIs, together with a 443-foot residence run, in opposition to the Detroit Tigers — earlier than cooling off by batting .184 in September.

Newman adopted a robust rookie season by which he batted .308 with 27 doubles, 12 homers and 64 RBIs with a sophomore slump. He hit .224, misplaced his leadoff spot within the order and dedicated eight errors within the area.

Newman spent the offseason centered on his footwork and vary in an effort to be higher positioned to make performs.

After making headlines final season for switching to the outfield, Tucker made extra this winter for relationship actress Vanessa Hudgens. Tucker flashed his athleticism in middle area and is understood for his acrobatic performs within the gap. Now that he’s left the outfield grass to return to the infield grime, Tucker needs to indicate he can hit higher than the .215 he did in his first 93 profession video games.

Shelton has preached the significance of versatility on the Pirates, so whoever doesn’t win the shortstop job may find yourself getting taking part in time at second base or within the outfield. However the trio of candidates don’t wish to hear such discuss proper now, not with a beginning alternative to grab. Additionally they are properly conscious the Pirates have stockpiled prospects at their place, with prized minor leaguers Oneil Cruz, Ji-Hwan Bae and Liover Peguero in coaching camp.

“We’re actually gunning for these spots, actually are leaning into this competitors,” Tucker stated. “I’m excited for video games to start out occurring as a result of that’s if you study a lot. That’s when folks can actually separate themselves.”

Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Assessment employees author. You may contact Kevin by electronic mail at kgorman@triblive.com or through Twitter .