Injury Bug Strikes Again: Who are the Reinforcements
Injuries happen in baseball, but the Pirates have been hit especially hard by the injury bug. They already had 10 regulars on the injured list and might have lost two more to injury on Sunday. Colin Moran was involved in a collision at first base on the very first play of the game but continued to play until being pulled in the third inning with concussion-like symptoms. One inning later, Kevin Newman started grimacing after striking out swinging and he had to leave the game. It caused a whole lot of shuffling in the Pirates lineup as Jose Osuna moved from right field to first base, Cole Tucker came in to play right field, Erik Gonzalez moved from third base to first base, and JT Riddle came in to play third base.
It was a lot of switching around, but if either is out for an extended period of time, it means it's time to see some of the young stars. So, who might we see get recalled from the taxi squad in Altoona if either player should hit the Injured List? There are some obvious options, but there might be some surprises that get the call. Could we see another Bryan Reynolds come out of nowhere or will it be one of the Pirates obvious top prospects? That is what we take a look at as we see who is on the Pirates taxi squad and who is ready for the jump to Major League Baseball to help the Pirates this season.
Option #1: IF Ke'Bryan Hayes
The obvious option for the Pirates and the one many Pirates fans want to see is the Pirates #2 prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes. He was drafted in the first round of the 2015 MLB Draft and has climbed the ladder all the way to Triple-A Indianapolis in four seasons. While his glove is one of his best tools, his bat has taken some time to come around. In 2019, he appeared in 110 games for the Indians hitting .265 with 10 home runs and 53 RBI. He doesn't have the typical power that you see from a third baseman, but his glove is definitely capable enough to play the position.
His career-high for home runs came last season when he hit 10. It was the first time he was in double digits in his professional career, but with the increase in power came an increase in strikeouts. He went down a career-high 92 times but continued to show patience walking 45 times. Hayes projects more as a contact bat than a power hitter and he has hit the ball throughout his career. His highest batting average came in 2018 when he hit .293 with 43 extra-base hits, including 31 doubles. This may be an advantage for Hayes at the Big League level as he can use the deep gaps at PNC Park to his advantage and drive in a lot of runs.
If the Pirates choose this route, Hayes would slide in as the everyday third baseman and Erik Gonzalez could shift over to shortstop. This leaves a utility infielder still on the bench in the form of JT Riddle and gives Jose Osuna a spot as the team's First Baseman/Designated Hitter. Hayes would probably be inserted into the bottom third of the Pirates lineup until he could prove that he could hit Major League pitching. He will most likely be down in the seventh or eighth hole and, if he proves he can hit the ball consistently, he could move up to the two or three spots in the order. With Hayes comes the uncertainty if his bat is ready or not he saw some regression last season, but has so far been tearing it up in Altoona and hopefully can bring that success to the Big Leagues.
Option #2: IF O'Neil Cruz
The second top prospect the Pirates could bring up is infielder O'Neil Cruz who impressed during Spring Training 1.0. Last season, he split his time between Advanced-A Bradenton and Double-A Altoona and put up big numbers hitting .298 with eight home runs and 34 RBI. He would have contributed more if he didn't deal with a right foot fracture that kept him out for a little over two months. He played his first months' worth of games before the injury at Advanced-A Bradenton and played well hitting .301 with seven home runs and 16 RBI. After coming off the Injured List, Cruz was sent to Double-A Altoona where he saw a little bit of a digression at the plate but still hit .269 with one home run and 17 RBI.
Where Cruz really impressed this season was in Spring Training 2020, where he showed some impressive power both in-home run form and hitting the gaps. In 24 at-bats this spring, he picked up five hits, three of those for extra-bases. His lone home run of the spring traveled over 400 feet and caught the attention of Pirates fans and coaches alike. Standing at 6'7, 210 pounds, Cruz should see more of that power develop and there has been talk of transitioning him to become an outfielder. He has good speed and has the tall frame to play the outfield, but if he stays a shortstop, he would be the tallest active shortstop in the MLB.
If the Pirates decide to go that route and call on Cruz, it could give the team the opportunity to move Tucker back to his natural shortstop position and have Cruz in right field. As far as third base goes, Erik Gonzalez would man the position full-time giving him his first starting spot since the beginning of last season before his collarbone injury. Or they could just keep Tucker in the outfield and allow Cruz to remain a shortstop at the big league level. Cruz has had some problems defensively over his career at short, so the more likely option would see Tucker come in and Cruz goes to the outfield.
Option #3: IF Rodolfo Castro
If the Pirates wanted to get really adventurous, they could decide to call up their #26 ranked prospect Rodolfo Castro. This would be a move aimed at getting Cruz and Hayes more time to develop and serve more as a quick fix than a full-time option. Castro has hit at every level of the Minor Leagues so far and is using his speed to impress scouts. Last season, he split time between Low-A Greensboro and Advanced-A Bradenton and rebounded after a bad 2018 season. He hit .242 last year with 19 home runs and 73 RBI in 118 games played. He seems to have the most power of any of the three options for the Pirates and could give them a jump in the middle of the infield.
The problem with this option would be that Castro is a second baseman by trade and, although he has experience as a shortstop, it would be a transition for the 21-year-old. If the Pirates would keep Castro at his natural position, you could do some shuffling, and play Castro at second base, Gonzalez at shortstop, Osuna at third base, and move Adam Frazier out to right field. Frazier was a utility player to start his career and could go back to the outfield if the Pirates need him to. However, if the Pirates are looking to shop Frazier on the trade market, he would probably stay at second base and Castro would move to shortstop. This would keep Tucker in the outfield and allow him to continue to develop there.
Option #4: IF Will Craig
The last option for the Pirates, and probably the least likely of the four options, would see the Pirates call up their #22 ranked prospect Will Craig. Craig has been down in the Pirates Minor League system since being drafted in the first round of the 2016 draft. Last season was his first full year in Triple-A Indianapolis, and he showed the power hitter he could be. He hit a career-high 23 home runs and drove in 78 RBI in 131 games played between first base and outfield. However, he said that he slowed down at the end of the year and began to feel sluggish. He dropped over 30 pounds this season and has come back at 220 pounds.
With Craig, you could go two different routes if he gets the call to the Major Leagues. The first option has Craig switch back and forth with Josh Bell as the First Baseman /Designated Hitter. In this scenario, JT Riddle could be the full-time shortstop until Newman returns and Erik Gonzalez moves to third base. The other option for the Pirates moves Craig to right field and puts Cole Tucker back at shortstop. Jose Osuna could then come in to play first base and Erik Gonzalez starts at third base. It would add some much-needed power to a Pirates lineup that has been void of power for much of the season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (7-17) have an off day on Monday, before heading on the road for a short two-game series with the Chicago White Sox (17-12). Steven Brault (0-0, 3.00) looks to continue his stretch of not allowing an earned run as a starter when he opposes Lucas Giolito (2-2, 3.89). It is the MLB.tv free game of the day, you can watch it live on AT&T Sportsnet, and you can listen to the action on 93.7 The Fan. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 pm.
Comments
Post a Comment