Jung Ho Kang's future with the Pirates remains clouded. The 30-year-old missed the entire season because the State Department rejected his application for a work visa to enter the United States after a DUI arrest in South Korea last December.
In the face of that uncertainty, Kang is playing in the Dominican Winter League for Águilas Cibaeñas to prepare for a possible return to the Pirates in 2018. However, a possible contingency plan is in the works.
José Osuna, who split time between first base and the outfield as a rookie this season, will play third base for Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuelan Winter League over the next two months, giving him an opportunity for possibly more playing time in 2018 and, in turn, giving the Pirates more at-bats from one of their more powerful hitters.
"I've really liked it," Osuna, who spent some time at third during spring training, told DKPittsburghSports.com last month of his early practice at the position. "I have to continue playing at third. See what I can do next season. I'm trying to play more often. That's going to be good."
That plan, of course, will hinge on Kang, who batted .255 with 21 home runs and 62 RBI in 103 games during 2016. With him on the restricted list, David Freese and Josh Harrison combined to start 145 games at third base this season.
Although both players offered upside, neither possessed the type of power that Kang has and that the Pirates could have used in 2017. The Pirates ranked 29th in Major League Baseball in home runs and 28th in OPS.
You think the Pirates could have used this in 2017?
Primer jonrón de Jung Ho Kang en la Liga Dominicana de Béisbol.
First home run by Jung Ho Kang in the Dominican Baseball League. pic.twitter.com/a20jJEiZCb
— Águilas Cibaeñas (@aguilascibaenas) October 24, 2017
That's a solo home run by Kang on Monday — his first in any game since Oct 1, 2016.
Losing Starling Marte to an 80-game suspension and an injury-plagued season from Gregory Polanco didn't help matters, either. In Kang's absence, Freese was thrust into a starting role. The 34-year-old was above-average defensively — registering 7.0 Defensive Runs Saved and a plus-3.1 Ultimate Zone Rating to become a Gold Glove finalist — but he was below-average offensively.
Freese slashed .263/.368/.739 in 130 games, hitting 10 home runs and driving in 52. His Wins Above Replacement on offense was negative-4.1, per FanGraphs, which was 6.3 WAR lower than Kang's in 2016.
Harrison, meanwhile, wasn't nearly as sharp at third base as he was at second, registering an 0.9 UZR and 2.0 DRS. Although his primary position is second base, Harrison did provide much more upside at third than Freese, batting .272 with a .339 on-base percentage, 16 home runs and 47 RBI before a broken finger ended his season in September.
Freese is scheduled to make $4.25 million next season and has a team option for 2019 before he becomes a free agent. Harrison, on the other hand, will make $10.25 million in 2018 and has team options for 2019 and 2020, but he could be dangled in trade talks this winter.
Additionally, Sean Rodriguez, reacquired from the Braves in August, has never started more than 21 games at third base in any of his nine major-league seasons.
As part of what Clint Hurdle described as a "long-term vision," Osuna began working with coach Joey Cora on learning the nuances of third base in July. Osuna, who will turn 25 in December, never played the position during his seven previous seasons in the Pirates' organization.
He played 36 games in the corner outfield spots and 23 at first this season, but none are long-term options for Osuna, who batted .233 with seven home runs and 30 RBI in 104 games this season.
Although he showed impeccable arm strength, Osuna never looked comfortable in the outfield, committing two errors in right and registering negative-9.0 defensive runs saved. Plus, Marte and Polanco are entrenched in left and right field, respectively, unless Andrew McCutchen doesn't return.
First base is also not an option after Josh Bell's breakthrough season of 26 home runs and 90 RBI. So, Osuna is expected to play four or five games per week this winter at third base, with only one or two games in the outfield.
Although there are some similarities between third and first, Osuna admitted the adjustment is far from simple.
"Smaller glove," Osuna explained. "They hit the ball harder and they hit the ball with more consistency to third base. You have to be ready. The corner is the same, but I have to play and see what happens."
It's clear why the Pirates want to get him more involved. Osuna led the Grapefruit League with a .407 average last spring, ranked second in slugging percentage and hit five home runs with 17 RBI. He was recalled from Triple-A when Marte was suspended, but like most young players, struggled as a pinch-hitter, which had a negative impact on his overall numbers.
He was 6 for 50 with one home run and two RBI as a pinch-hitter while batting .248 with 10 doubles, four home runs and 48 RBI in 42 starts this season. He batted .324 in 17 games during June, although he was hitless in his final 14 at-bats of the season.
The upside is there.
Much can change between now and when the Pirates arrive in Bradenton for spring training and Osuna's transition to third base could be rockier than the front office planned, but he expressed confidence that lessons learned from 2017 will catapult him to greater heights.
"It was a really good experience," he said. "I learned so much. ... It’s the first time coming from the bench. A lot of stuff I had to learn from. It was good. I showed what I can do. Showed I can hit here."