Hurdle encouraged by progress of three rookie bench players

The departures of Sean Rodriguez and Matt Joyce led to a youth movement on the Pirates' bench, and it's produced mixed results through 49 games.

Three rookies — José Osuna, Gift Ngoepe and Alen Hanson — are being utilized late as pinch-hitters or defensive replacements, and they're batting a combined .213 as they adjust to a new role from playing everyday in the minor leagues.

Their production has not matched that of Rodriguez or Joyce, but their decision to embrace the role has Clint Hurdle feeling encouraged.



"All of them played everyday all their career, and now they have to come up and find a way to attack a different role and figure that out," Hurdle said. "It’s all part of it, but their buy-in is real. They’re getting ready is real."

Osuna admitted that preparing for such a role was challenging. The 24-year-old outfielder/first baseman is now one of two outfielders on the Pirates bench, and has been used by Hurdle as both a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement for Josh Bell at first base.

A breakthrough could be on the horizon, and he credits his new pregame routine as the difference. Osuna arrives early at the ballpark before games to take his first batting practice session inside the cage. He'll then relax in the clubhouse and participate in the pregame stretch with his teammates.

When the game begins, Osuna will watch the first three or four innings from the dugout before heading inside for one more session in the cage.

"It’s been very hard," Osuna told DKPittsburghSports.com prior to Saturday's 7:10 p.m. game at PNC Park against the Mets. "I have to make an adjustment, though. I have to prepare myself for every inning and every moment."

Osuna is now 5-for-20 with two home runs and six RBI in 61 plate appearances as a sub, and has just 21 plate appearances as a starter since being recalled from Indianapolis April 18 when Starling Marté was suspended for 80 games.

He delivered a two-run, game-tying single in the ninth inning in the Pirates' 12-5 win over th Braves Wednesday night in Atlanta, and a solo home run to left in the seven-run 10th inning.

But it has taken Osuna more than one at-bat in a game for him to produce. He's 0-for-11 as a pinch-hitter this season. There have been extensive conversations between him, Hurdle and hitting coach Jeff Branson to try and develop some consistency, but Osuna said it's going to take time and experience for that to happen.

"I think the last couple days have been better, but it's not there yet," he added. "They’ve told me that is very hard. It’s very hard to prepare for that one at-bat and maybe even more. But I have to be ready."

Even Joyce and Rodriguez struggled when pinch-hitting in 2016. Joyce, who signed with the Athletics in the offseason, batted .220 in those situations, though he drew 21 walks. The left-handed outfielder hit .234 with five home runs and 16 RBI as a sub.

Rodriguez, meanwhile, batted just .211 as a pinch-hitter. That's why Hurdle is not expecting instant production from any of the three rookies, though he's encouraged by adjustments they've made during games.

Ngoepe was particularly impressive in the 12-5 win over the Braves Wednesday. The infielder is used more as a defensive replacement, but he provided two key hits during the Pirates' rally. He reached on an infield single to lead off the ninth inning and later scored.

Ngoepe then drove in the eventual winning run in the 10th when he fought off an inside fastball to right field for an RBI double.

"Every at-bat counts and you have to make the most of it," he said. "I’m not here to start in every game, so when I have my opportunities to be up there for that one at-bat, as long as I compete and show I’m able to fight at the plate I’ll get more chances as the season goes."

Though he's batting .235 in 24 games, Ngoepe has driven in three runs and owns a .429 on-base percentage as a sub. Hanson, a switch-hitter who can play three infield positions and right field, is 3-for-14 as a pinch-hitter and is batting just .140 as a substitute.

Their chances in such situations may decrease with John Jaso returning to the bench, but all three remain an intregal part of a bench that Hurdle said fits the Pirates' needs.

Those needs changed drastically with Marté's suspension and Jung Ho Kang's legal situation in South Korea, and Hurdle said the three rookies are making the most of an opportunity.

"It's fun to watch them develop," he said.