Getting another shot in majors, Marcano sticking out in middle infield

ATLANTA -- Looking at the Pirates' roster and farm system, there may not be a pair of positions that will see more competition, or questions, than the middle infield.

Will Oneil Cruz stick at shortstop? Will the Altoona double-play combo of Liover Peguero and Nick Gonzales do the same in Pittsburgh? Are Diego Castillo, Ji-Hwan Bae or Rodolfo Castro parts for the next competitive Pirates team?

Of course some players could move to different positions, but this competition is what the Pirates want by design.

“What everybody in the major leagues wants is to be able to play every day,” director of coaching and player development John Baker said Friday. “So there are these little thresholds of competition. If we can keep a positive clubhouse culture like they’re doing here, guys are both competing and rooting for each other. That’s something that I think is essential for this process to work for a long period of time.”

That's what makes Tucupita Marcano's performance during this weekend series, and really his whole stint in the majors this year, so interesting. After starting the year in Class AA Altoona -- a demotion from last year where he played in the majors with the Padres and Class AAA with the Padres and Pirates -- to get more consistent playing time, he's shown how much he has grown as a player since his first shaky call up to the majors with the Padres last season.

And while it came in a losing effort Sunday -- as the Pirates fell to the Braves, 5-3, at Truist Park -- a three-hit performance in his audition out of the leadoff spot could lead way to some consistency for the 22-year-old in that spot in the order.

"To be honest with you, man, just being given the opportunity and the trust to be able to be on that lineup, my mindset is just to help the team win," Marcano said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez about batting leadoff. "I'm just grateful that the coach believes in me, trusts in me, and any situation that he puts me in I'm gonna do my best to execute and help the team win."

Marcano has the speed and bat-to-ball skills that make a potential good fit as a traditional leadoff hitter. Right now, he's showing he can hit major-league pitching too, slashing .311/.367/.511 with a couple home runs over his first 51 plate appearances.

"I feel like that's what's giving me a lot of success right now [is] just doing my homework, remaining focused and coming to the plate ready and prepared," Marcano said.

There has been a bit more swing and miss in his game so far this year, but that comes with a jump from Class AA and still growing as a player.

"I think we continue to develop it, but it's something innately he's done," Derek Shelton said about his contact skills. "I think a large part of that comes with just a really simple approach in terms of how he looks at his at-bats and just trying to put the ball in play."

The headlining piece in the Adam Frazier trade last summer, Marcano profiles as a similar type of player, down to being defensively versatile. Though there is obvious appeal at keeping him at second if he continues to make catches like the one he made on Saturday:

If he keeps performing like this, that middle infield competition could just be one spot moving forward. Until then, he welcomes those challenges, is remaining confident and is focused on trying to get better.

"I believe one of the biggest keys is just having a growth mindset," Marcano said. "I allow my coaches to pour into me, I try to learn as much as I can from my coaches, from my teammates, and just getting poured into, it's been something huge for me. Those are things that I absorb, and I try to implement into my game plan and into my mindset going out to the game."

MORE FROM THE GAME

• So that's a four-game sweep at the hands of the Braves, and a six-game losing streak for the Pirates.

"We need to get out of Atlanta," Shelton said. "That’s a good baseball team."

• José Quintana had done a good job this season keeping the ball in play, allowing just two homers through his first 11 starts of the season.

He was taken deep three times Sunday, in nearly identical fashion. William Contreras and Adam Duvall went back-to-back in the second inning, and then in the fourth, Contreras doubled off the wall in right-center before Duvall cleared the fence again:

Quintana stood by two of his pitches, saying they were where he wanted them located. Contreras' home run was high, inside and off the plate, but he was able to turn on it and hit the foul pole. Duvall's second homer was a changeup low and away.

"I don't worry about getting contact," Quintana said. "I'm not afraid to throw the ball where I want, especially when I don't get too many homers so far. They're really good."

Quintana was under the weather earlier this week, but said he was fine to pitch Sunday outside of some congestion. 

Wil Crowe tossed two scoreless to keep the game close, and Chase De Jong allowed a solo shot to Matt Olson in the eighth.

• Bryan Reynolds picked up a couple more hits and drove in all three of the Pirates' runs Sunday, the first on a third inning sacrifice fly and a two run homer in the fifth:

He picked up 10 hits in the four-game series, including two homers and a double.

"I admire the consistency that he has every day," Shelton said. "One of the things that we’ve talked about consistently with Bryan is he’s pretty even-keeled. He’s extremely competitive, but he stays even-keeled. It’s a grind, man. When you’re trying to find your swing from both sides of the plate, you really have to battle. I just appreciate the work he’s put in with [hitting coach] Andy [Haines] in the cage and the stability to stay with his approach."

It hasn't just been this series, either. Over his last 15 games, Reynolds is slashing .329/.338/.623 over 65 plate appearances with five home runs and three doubles.

• I couldn't work it into the main story, but I like this quote from Marcano about the support he gets from his family:

"I have a huge support [system] from my hometown, but especially my parents, my family. They are constantly watching the games. My mom doesn't really like watching the games because she gets a little nervous when she watches me play, but my dad's watching every single pitch, every single out, every single play, every single inning and afterward we talk. He always speaks life into me. He's my coach, he's my guide, he's everything to me. So I'm just very grateful to have a family that supports me in such a way. My family just means everything to me."

• Before the game, Ben Cherington said on his 93.7 The Fan radio show that outfielder Jake Marisnick is getting close to a rehab assignment. Marisnick is doing many baseball activities already, including swinging a bat.

He underwent left thumb surgery May 12. 

• Factoid of the game: Reynolds is the first Pirate with 10 or more hits in a series since Adam Frazier had 10 against the Cubs from July 1 to July 3, 2019. Other Pirates to accomplish that this decade are Neil Walker (with the series starting June 30 2015) and Starling Marte (13 hits, starting Sept. 21, 2015).

THE ESSENTIALS

• Boxscore
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• Scoreboard

THE HIGHLIGHTS

THE INJURIES

• 10-day injured list: OF Ben Gamel (hamstring), RHP Heath Hembree (calf), OF Jake Marisnick (thumb), 1B Yoshi Tsutsugo (lumbar muscle strain), Josh VanMeter (finger)

• 60-day injured list: Kevin Newman (groin), OF Greg Allen (hamstring), RHP Blake Cederlind (UCL), RHP Nick Mears (elbow surgery), Roberto Pérez (hamstring, out for season)

THE LINEUPS

Shelton's card:

1. Tucupita Marcano, 2B
2. Bryan Reynolds, CF
3. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
4. Daniel Vogelbach, DH
5. Jack Suwinski, LF
6. Michael Chavis, 1B
7. Cal Mitchell, RF
8. Michael Perez, C
9. Diego Castillo, SS

And for Brian Snitker's Braves:

1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
2. Dansby Swanson, SS
3. Austin Riley, 3B
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. Ozzie Albies, 2B
6. Marcell Ozuna, DH
7. William Contreras, C
8. Adam Duvall, LF
9. Michael Harris II, CF

THE SCHEDULE

The Pirates will head out to St. Louis to start their four games in three days series with the Cardinals Monday. Mitch Keller (2-5, 5.26) will go for the Pirates against Zack Thompson (0-0, 2.25). First pitch is set for 7:45 p.m. Eastern. See you in St. Louie.

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