BRADENTON, Fla. -- Jung Ho Kang and Erik Gonzalez have won the Pirates’ two open spots in the lineup.
Kang will be the starting third baseman after beating out incumbent Colin Moran. Gonzalez, acquired from the Indians in an offseason trade, beat out rookie Kevin Newman at shortstop.
“It was not an easy decision because all four guys, in their own way, had legitimate claims to be the regular,” Neal Huntington said Monday morning before the Pirates traveled to Port Charlotte, Fla., to take on the Rays in an exhibition game.
“We’ve let them know that this is not a 162-game, set-in-stone decision. We’ve also let (Kang and Gonzalez) know that they are not going to have to look over their shoulders. It’s not a[n] 'every other game' type of situation where one guy starts one day and another guy starts the next.”
Kang is just 5-for-28 (.185) with 13 strikeouts this spring but all five hits have been solo home runs. Moran is 6-for-28 (.214) with a double and a homer but has also committed four errors while Kang has made two.
Moran was the Pirates’ regular third baseman as a rookie last season, hitting .277/.340/.409 with 11 home runs in 144 games. He also had minus-8 defensive runs saved.
Kang missed the entire 2017 season and the beginning of 2018 because he was unable to secure a work visa to travel from his native South Korea following a third DUI arrest. He then underwent wrist surgery last year before returning to the Pirates for the final three games of the season.
Moran’s defensive showing in the exhibition games has been particularly disappointing. The Pirates felt having Moran play deeper this year would enable him to make more plays.
“He was remarkably reliable throwing the ball last year, but he obviously had problems this spring,” Huntington said of Moran. “Colin’s first step has gotten better. He’s getting to balls that he didn’t get to last year. We just thought Kang and Gonzalez was our best defensive tandem.”
Kang's bat is what has impressed Clint Hurdle.
"The power has been real," Hurdle said. "It's spring training, but it’s five homers. We don’t have anybody else that’s hit five homers."
Moran started at first base in the game against the Rays. Moran appeared in four games there with the Astros in 2017, all in a reserve role.
Gonzalez has gone 7-for-30 (.233) with a double, a home run, 11 strikeouts and two errors in Grapefruit League play. Newman is 8-for-29 (.276) with two doubles, a homer and no errors.
Newman has performed better statistically this spring. However, the Pirates are banking on their scouts’ evaluation of Gonzalez, who they believe can be a Major League-caliber shortstop despite serving in a utility role the past three seasons with the Indians while stuck behind All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor on the depth chart.
“At times, he’s looked like a player knocking off the rust because he’s young and hasn’t played a whole lot,” Huntington said of Gonzalez. “At times, we’ve seen a guy who can make rangy plays. At times, we’ve seen some barrel. At times, we’ve seen some effective baserunning.
“Our belief is he’ll take a deep breath now and we can [get] that on a more consistent basis than we have this spring.”
Added Hurdle: “I’m excited to see what Gonzalez can bring as an everyday player based on what our scouts shared with us, what we’ve seen in a small period of time in spring training."
Naturally, Gonzalez was excited about the news.
"I have been waiting for this opportunity for a long time and it's finally here," he told me with a smile after a morning workout at LECOM Park. "I am so happy for my family, friends, the people have supported and always believe I could be a starting shortstop in the big leagues."
Newman played second base at Port Charlotte, the first time all spring he had been at a position other than shortstop.
It appears Newman and Pablo Reyes are now in a battle for the utility infielder’s role. Reyes’ ability to play center field works in his favor, as the Pirates do not have a true backup for Starling Marte.
Should Newman wind up at Triple-A Indianapolis, his opportunities could be limited playing behind second baseman Kevin Kramer, third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes and shortstop Cole Tucker.
“Moran and Newman can be important members of the organization short-term, medium-term and long-term,” Huntington said. “Everybody makes such a huge deal about the opening-day roster but you’re going to need 30, 35, 40, 45 players over the course of a season; maybe more. We have multiple shortstops, multiple third basemen, which is a good thing for the organization.”
PERROTTO'S VIEW
This is not a surprise. It had been clear for the last week or so that the Pirates were leaning toward Kang and Gonzalez.
Kang is in great shape and has hit the ball with authority this spring. However, he also turns 32 in April and is going to need to be rested, which should provide some opportunities for Moran to still make some starts.
Gonzalez hasn't set the world on fire this spring and has been outplayed by Newman, though not by a lot. However, the Pirates are convinced Gonzalez is an everyday shortstop and he will get a chance to prove them right. Time will tell if he can do it.
The arrow seems to be pointing down on Newman's career. He'll either be a bench guy at the Major League level or at Triple-A, which is not a good spot to occupy.