DENVER -- It may not be PNC Park, but maybe Coors Field is a home away from home for Jack Suwinski.
As a rookie last year, Suwinski had legendarily drastic home-road splits, hitting just .112 with three home runs away from PNC Park. While Coors Field is the epitome of a hitter's park, rattling off three straight home runs -- including two Tuesday in the Pirates' 5-3 win over the Rockies -- has to show that something is going right for the young outfielder.
"He likes PNC, but I'm pretty sure that he would sign up for this to be second," Derek Shelton joked.
Monday's 464-foot blast was a garbage time shot off of a position player, but his first two Tuesday were authentic. First he went with a Jose Ureña slider on the outer half of the plate, then in the fourth, he turned on a fastball down the pipe that went 434-feet into the Colorado night:
THREE STRAIGHT AT BATS WITH A HOME RUN 🤯🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/9I9iBkLgwY
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 19, 2023
After going just 1-for-15 to start the year, Suwinski has picked it up of late, riding a six-game hitting streak where he's not just driving the ball, but making more consistent contact.
"It’s been feeling good," a wide-grinning Suwinski said. "All of our prep work, all the guys who have been helping me, we’ve been working really hard. It’s good to see it come [together]."
It's the work and results the Pirates believed they would see all along, even if Suwinski didn't get off to the best of starts.
After a breakout but streaky rookie campaign, the Pirates went into this spring training very open that outfield playing time was for up for grabs and that it was an open competition. Suwinski did not do well, striking out often and dropping several routine fly balls in the Florida sun. That did not matter much for the team, though, as they essentially planned on him being part of the opening day team. There was competition, but he had earned his shot from the year prior. A 19 homer season couldn't be ignored.
"I think we saw Jack have good at-bats last year," Shelton said. "He went through that tough stretch, so if you took that tough stretch out, his numbers are very respectable for a rookie. More than respectable for a rookie. It's just knowing what he has in there that makes us have confidence in him."
While the defensive issues were remedied once Suwinski got into major-league ballparks again, the swing was inconsistent. He ranked in the 99% percentile of major-league hitters in average exit velocity, but in the 13th percentile in terms of whiffs and strikeouts.
And while he wouldn't admit to looking over his shoulder, the Pirates have other outfielders in the minors looking for another chance.
"I know everyone in here is playing hard," Suwinski said. "I know guys throughout the organization are playing as hard as they can. I just want to come in and be the best that I can be and help this team win."
Suwinski came into the year with a variety of swing changes in mind, some of which have been further tweaked as the season progressed. One that has seemed to come recently is it appears that he has backed off of the plate:
When asked if he has moved off the plate, Suwinski coyly opted to say that he and the hitting team have been working on a couple things.
One of those items can be seen on his first home run swing, staying back on a slider on what was intended to be a putaway pitch by Ureña:
"Something we’ve been working on is staying through the ball, staying on the ball," Suwinski said. "I just think that’s our work coming into play during the game."
Getting regular contributions from Suwinski would help lengthen what has been one of the National League's top offenses so far this season. The Pirates are fourth in baseball in extra-base hits (61) and in the upper half in terms of runs (85) and OPS (.757). Continuing to get more out of one of their top performers from last year would only help.
"We’ve been having a lot of fun with each other," Suwinski said. "We also know that we’re here to take care of business."
MORE FROM THE GAME
• The Pirates' streak of consecutive quality starts is still going, though it looked pretty improbable earlier.
The Rockies pounced on Vince Velasquez fastballs early, with Kris Bryant homering off of one and Elias Díaz doubling home a pair on another. Velasquez would rebound by relying on more changeups and sliders, navigating the Rockies' lineup without anymore damage.
"I found another pitch, another weapon that I could easily go to and managed to utilize that in my repertoire and get ‘em off-balance," Velasquez said.
"He looked like he settled down in his delivery," Shelton said. "They [Velasquez and Austin Hedges] really seemed to get on the same page, and I think Hedgie did a really nice job with him tonight."
Velasquez would end up allowing three runs over six innings with five hits, three walks and seven strikeouts on his ledger.
That qualifies as a quality start, the eighth in a row for the team. During that stretch, the starting staff has recorded a 2.57 ERA.
That can't be overlooked when considering the Pirates have now had two winning road trips this season.
"I'm really proud of the way the group plays when we've gotten down in games," Shelton said. "They've continued to fight back. The energy in our dugout is outstanding, and it shows by the way we're playing on the field."
• Colin Holderman was unavailable in relief because of his recent workload, so the Pirates had to turn to Robert Stephenson in the eighth, who allowed the first two runners of the inning to reach base but escaped unscathed.
David Bednar was a little less lucky. Sure, he pitched a scoreless ninth and got the save, but he also took a line drive right off the keister to start the inning. He was able to chase down the ball and throw out Jurickson Profar at first to start the inning.
"I'm glad we got the Yinzer butt there, because it was a heck of a play.," Shelton said.
"I had to make sure the ball was alright after that," Bednar joked.
In case the jokes didn't get the message across, he's fine.
• Frustrating night for Ji Hwan Bae, who was caught stealing, picked off and made an error at shortstop. He was clearly frustrated, slamming his bat after striking out to end the eighth, but nights like this will happen to rookies.
Don Kelly pulled a seat next to him at his locker postgame. Seemed like a good chat.
THE ESSENTIALS
THE HIGHLIGHTS
Video to come.
THE INJURIES
• 10-day injured list: 1B Ji-Man Choi (achilles)
• 15-day injured list: RHP Chase De Jong (lumbar spine), Rob Zastryzny (elbow)
• 60-day injured list: RHP JT Brubaker (elbow), SS Oneil Cruz (ankle), LHP Jarlin Garcia (elbow)
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
2. Bryan Reynolds, LF
3. Connor Joe, 1B
4. Carlos Santana, DH
5. Jack Suwinski, CF
6. Canaan Smith-Njigba, RF
7. Ji Hwan Bae, SS
8. Tucupita Marcano, 2B
9. Austin Hedges, C
And for Bud Black's Rockies:
1. Jurickson Profar, LF
2. Kris Bryant, RF
3. Charlie Blackmon, DH
4. CJ Cron, 1B
5. Ryan McMahon, 3B
6. Elias Díaz, C
7. Yonathan Daza, CF
8. Alan Trejo, 2B
9. Ezequiel Tovar, SS
THE SCHEDULE
The Pirates will try for the sweep Wednesday when Johan Oviedo (1-1, 2.45) takes the mount against Austin Gomber (0-3, 8.16). First pitch will be at 3:10 p.m. Eastern. Last one of the road trip for the team.
THE MULTIMEDIA
THE CONTENT
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