Pittsburgh Pirates Grade Report: Third Base
Overall, the 2020 Pirates were not a fun team to watch. From blown leads to injuries, to flat out poor play on the field, there 19-41 record was indicative of the team's struggles. However, one area that was fun to watch was the play of the Pirate's third basemen, as the team saw a breakout performance and took a glimpse into the future. Ke'Bryan Hayes took the league by storm and Colin Moran broke out as one of the top offensive players in the league at one point. The jury is still out on Hayes, but the initial glimpse has Pirates fans excited about the hot corner. The last consistent player at third base for the Pirates was Pedro Alvarez, and Hayes is looking to raise the bar even higher.
As we look forward to 2021, it looks as though Hayes will secure the third base spot at least for the time being. This allows for other players, such as Moran, to move to positions that more suit their skill sets. However, not everything is perfect with this group of players. There have been some mental mistakes that come with a transition to the Major Leagues, and they have come through now and then. Today, we will look at the group of third basemen and see how they grade out for 2020 and what the future of the position looks like as the Pirates look to take a step forward in 2021.
Ke'Bryan Hayes - Starting Third Baseman
On September 1st, 2020, the Pirates gave their fans something to cheer about. With the team on a hot streak, they called up their #3 overall prospect Ke'Bryan Hayes to make his Major League debut against the Chicago Cubs. The much anticipated moment did not disappoint as Hayes ended up going 2-5 with a home run and two RBI. It kicked off a month's worth of games that gave Pirates fans some hope for the hot corner in the future. Hayes had a strong showing both offensively and defensively, but was the success because of a small sample size, or did the Pirates find a diamond in the rough that could man the position full-term.
In 24 games played covering 85 at-bats, Hayes hit .376 with five home runs and 11 RBI. Not only was he getting on base on a consistent basis, but he was picking up extra-base hits as well. Of his 32 hits on the season just over 43% of those went for extra-bases. He struck out just 20 times in 85 at-bats and put the ball in play 93% of the time when pitches were in the zone. This led to a .450 Batting Average on Balls in Play adding to the old adage that if you put the ball in play good things will happen. Hayes has shown a natural ability at the plate through his first month of the season, and the Pirates are hoping he can continue that success into 2021.
Defensively, Hayes was known for his ability winning two Gold Gloves at third base in the Minor Leagues. That defensive ability transitioned nicely during his first month in the Major Leagues. He played 198.1 innings at third base and committed just one error for a .985 fielding percentage. That lone error came on a throw to home plate where Hayes had to throw around a base runner. He made several terrific plays throughout the season including an incredible over-the-shoulder catch where he ran halfway out into left field. Defensively, the left side of the infield is pretty well secured with Hayes and Gonzalez manning the positions as the Pirates look to improve from being the worst team in the league.
Colin Moran - Back-up Third Baseman
We previously broke down Colin Moran's offensive performance in the First Base Grade Report, so for this one, we will focus more on his defense. He was one of the few bright spots for the Pirates and finished the year hitting .247 with 10 home runs and 23 RBI. He was the team's Opening Day third baseman and, for as good as his offense was, his defense left little to be desired. Moran struggled in 2019 posting a .938 fielding percentage at third base. The Pirates moved Moran around the field, and he has seemed to find a home at first base. However, the year started with Moran at the hot corner leaving little to be desired.
In just four games played at the hot corner, Moran committed an error in 35 innings played and posted a .923 fielding percentage. He flopped between first base and third base in the Minor Leagues as well but cracked the Pirates roster as a third baseman. It was mostly his bat, not his glove that kept him there and he just didn't seem to have the reaction and the quickness for the hot corner. He was part of just one double play while at third base and picked up 5 putouts to go along with seven assists. The move to first base opened up room for Ke'Bryan Hayes to make his Major League debut on September 1st.
Overall Grade: A-
With Hayes playing as well as he did, and Moran surprising offensively at the beginning of the season, the third basemen are the only position group to get an A this season. Hayes is giving fans some excitement going into 2021 as the hot corner looks to be a stable position for the team. The third basemen hit the ball well and Hayes's defense is second to none. The question remaining at third base is whether or not Hayes can perform the way he did in September over the course of a full season. There will undoubtedly be some stretches where he struggles, but how he bounces back from those struggles will be key to the Pirate's future.
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