Five guys with something to prove this spring

BRADENTON, Fla. -- There are plenty of questions and very few answers surrounding the Pirates as spring training is set to begin Wednesday with the first workout for pitchers and catchers. 

Positions and rotation spots are up for grabs, and individuals will be looking to show their worth over the next month and a half. 

Here are five players who have something to prove while in Bradenton: 

HENRY DAVIS

Davis should be an instrumental part of what the Pirates aim to achieve this season, but he could have more to showcase this spring than any other player projected to make the opening day roster. 

Of course he’ll be looking to build off the 62-game sample size that saw him bat .213/.302/.351 with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. For the Pirates to be successful, Davis needs to contribute at the plate. 

But the question on everyone’s mind is whether he can be a suitable major-league option behind it. 

After appearing in 79 games and totaling just over 672 innings at catcher during his three seasons in the minor leagues, the former first overall pick compiled just two innings of MLB experience at the position a year ago. By the end of the season, Jason Delay and Endy Rodriguez were the preferred catching options, forcing Davis into a team-high 49 starts out in right field. 

Even with Rodriguez out for the year, there is serviceable depth behind Davis in recently-signed veteran Yasmani Grandal and Delay, who has collected over 900 innings of big-league catching experience over the last two years. But it should still be Davis’ job to lose, as he sets out to prove he's worthy. 

ONEIL CRUZ

I don’t think anyone has any doubt that Cruz will be the Pirates’ opening day shortstop. 

So what does he have to prove? 

Well, first things first, he has to show he’s healthy after missing all but nine games last season due to a fractured ankle. Will it negatively impact his fielding and his baserunning? He’s had plenty of time to rehab and get things right, so I don’t think it will take long for us to see the progression he’s made. 

Cruz will also be out to improve on the 87 games he played in 2022. He hit .233/.294/.450 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs, but he struggled defensively at times by tying for fourth in the majors with 17 errors. 

There's room to grow, both at the plate and in the field. Now is the time for Cruz to take that next step. 

JARED TRIOLO

Triolo impressed during a 54-game stint with the Pirates last season, slashing .298/.388/.398 with three home runs, 21 RBIs and 30 runs scored. 

He spent most of his time (35 games) over at third base in place of the injured Ke’Bryan Hayes, but also gained some big-league experience over at first and second. 

With Hayes healthy and expected to be the everyday starter at third, Triolo should be a part of the battle for the starting job at second base this spring, joining the likes of Liover Peguero, Nick Gonzales and Ji Hwan Bae. Perhaps we will see him get some time at first again, too. 

While he would likely be suited for a super utility role given his versatility, Triolo will certainly be out to prove he's worthy of being in that starting mix at second. 

And that the success he had at the plate wasn't a fluke. 

MARCO GONZALES

Acquired in an offseason trade with the Braves, Gonzales should have a spot in the Pirates’ rotation all but locked up. 

But, like Cruz, the question surrounds his health and whether he can make the most of the opportunity he’ll be given. Gonzales was limited to 10 starts last year due to a left forearm strain, and appears to be a bit of a reclamation project after being dealt twice this winter. 

He looks to be making progress, as he’s reached an average fastball velocity of 89.4 mph, according to Driveline Baseball. That’s the hardest he’s thrown since the 2018 season when he was averaging just over 90 mph. 

In 2018, Gonzales won 13 games, posted a 4.00 ERA and 1.22 WHIP, and collected 145 strikeouts with 32 walks in 166 2/3 innings. 

QUINN PRIESTER

I could have put any combination of Priester, Roansy Contreras or Luis Ortiz on this list. 

All three of those guys will be vying for a spot in the starting rotation, and all three experienced their share of struggles last year. 

In Priester’s case, he came up to the big leagues as one of the organizations prized pitching prospects and experienced a rude awakening with a 10-appearance stretch that included a 7.74 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. He posted a 6.5 K/9 rate, a 4.9 BB/9 and a 2.2 HR/9.

It goes without saying, but Priester will be out to prove he belongs with the big-league club rather than starting the year with Class AAA Indianapolis. Perhaps a clean slate and a fresh start after an offseason of work will help him in pleading his case this spring.