BRADENTON, Fla. – Yoshi Tsutusgo asked if he could continue to tape up his bat when approached if he was free to talk.
After a couple minutes of chatting, the tape job was done. So I asked one last question.
“So how many homers are in that bat?”
He and his interpreter, Brian Tobin, shared a laugh.
“As many as we can.”
Fair enough. That’s what the Pirates are hoping for, too.
After a strong finish over the final month and a half of the season last year, posting a .268/.347/.535 slash line with eight home runs over his 43 games with the team. This winter, the Pirates broached the topic of him coming back on a multi-year deal. Tsutsugo wanted to come back to the Pirates as a thank you for giving him another major-league opportunity, but on a one-year deal.
It was a bet on himself, believing he can be one of the better hitters in America, the same way that he was in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball League.
“I’m changing as everyday goes by,” Tsutsugo said. “I’m getting more confident playing here in the states.”
The two sides eventually agreed for $4 million shortly before the lockout began. That 99-day pause without a collective bargaining agreement caused some concern for Tsutsugo, and even when it suddenly ended, he was not able to get into camp until Wednesday because of complications with his travel from his home in Japan.
“[I] did what I possibly could,” Tsutsugo said. “Practice everyday. Stay ready… [I] was worried when the season would start.”
Yoshi dinger pic.twitter.com/5T2DrK5fzn
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) March 17, 2022
After playing for three teams last year and three different positions with the Pirates – first base and the corner outfield spots – this year is going to most likely be more stable for him, splitting time at first base and designated hitter mostly with fellow free agent signing Daniel Vogelbach.
“We put him in a pretty awkward position of putting him out in the outfield which wasn't 100 percent fair to him -- it was to get his bat in the lineup at the time — and he never complained,” Derek Shelton said. “He went about it hard every day and gave us as consistent at-bats as we could ask for.”
Also on the diamond looking to bounce back on his prove-it deal is Roberto Pérez. A two-time Gold Glove winner with Cleveland, he filled an obvious hole on the roster after the club traded Jacob Stallings to the Marlins.
Shoulder injuries had cost him large parts of the last two seasons. Talking to him in camp, he is adamant that he is feeling better.
“The No. 1 priority for me is my health,” Pérez said. “There’s nothing else. I’m just worried about my shoulder. Worked this offseason on rehabbing it. I know what kind of player I am, what I’m capable of doing when I’m healthy. I’m excited for this year. The last two years, that’s in the past. Now it’s a new year, new opportunity, new team, new faces. I’m excited about it.”
From 2015 to 2019, Pérez was tied with Buster Posey for the most defensive runs saved among catchers (66), 30 of which came during the 2019 season where he also hit 24 home runs. While losing Jacob Stallings as a clubhouse voice hurt, a healthy Pérez could provide roughly the same, if not better, production than the former Pirate Gold Glover.
“It was a huge sign for us,” Shelton said. “After we traded [Stallings], we needed somebody that could solidify our group. We’re talking about a guy with multiple Gold Gloves and has caught some of the best pitchers in the game over the last 10 years.”
It could also be a huge signing for Pérez, who at 33 is still young enough that he too could score a multi-year deal next winter if he plays well, especially considering how thin the catching market usually is.
Pérez could also be that veteran voice too, and has quickly thrown himself into getting to know this group of pitchers during the short spring training camp ahead of their first game Friday.
“He's only been here for a couple days, but he's already diving in fast with our pitchers, trying to get to know him and get up to speed as soon as possible,” Ben Cherington said. “You can tell he really cares about that part of the game.”
“I could watch video all day long, but I think catching them live,” Pérez said. “I want to know what the ball’s doing, how the ball moves and stuff like that. I’d rather catch it live in the bullpen and sides and stuff like that than watch video. I told the staff here, I want to catch everybody, a different guy every day, so I can get used to them very quickly.”
It’s a young group without much major-league experience. That’s not scary at all for Pérez. In fact, it’s a selling point.
“In Cleveland, I had a younger staff, too,” Pérez said. “I really liked to help them and see them grow as pitchers. That’s why I decided to come here.”
