Jared Triolo vividly remembers receiving a call from Pirates vice president of performance, John Baker, four years ago after winning the minor league gold glove award for third basemen when he played for the Altoona Curve.

"He said ‘Hey, you won the gold glove, next year we’re going to have you work at all these other positions,' " Triolo recalled in the clubhouse at Pirate City. "It was kind of a memory that I’ll have with me forever."

That's where becoming a utility fielder started for Triolo, who won the National League gold glove award for utility infielders last season after playing five different positions -- he only played two innings in right field but played second base, third base, shortstop and first base -- and only recording two errors.

Triolo has bounced around the diamond throughout his baseball career, playing shortstop in high school and then third base and outfield in college. But, it wasn't until that point that he started to focus on playing multiple positions at the major-league level. 

He isn't alone.

If one would look around the infield during a workout at Pirate City, they'd see multiple players that can play several positions. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who won a gold glove at third base in 2020, has taken pride in being a utility infielder during his seven-year career. Nick Gonzales can play both second base and shortstop, Adam Frazier has made a career of playing wherever teams need him and Liover Peguero and Nick Yorke are both starting to follow in their footsteps by becoming as versatile as possible this spring.

A player that can play multiple positions is valuable to a manger. It allows them to move guys around and plug holes if an injury pops up. But, defensively versatile players make themselves even more valuable when they are having success at the plate.

"It makes you special, if you can do that, you’re playing every day," Kiner-Falefa told me. "I think that’s the cool thing about utility, is if you don’t have an opening, but you’re hitting, you’re playing. It doesn’t matter what position you’re at, they are going to have to find a way and versatility gives the manager a chance to fit you in somewhere."

Frazier, who signed a one-year, $1.53 million deal this offseason, has bounced around the league since being traded from Pittsburgh to the Padres amidst his lone All-Star season in 2021. He's played for three playoff teams over the last three seasons and has played seven different positions, including 1 1/3 innings at first base with the Royals last season.

As he returns to the Pirates, he's not necessarily worried about where he's going to end up defensively. He'll play wherever he's needed and knows if he hits, he'll be in the lineup.

"I know I can be available every day and be ready to help the team in any position," Frazier said. "That's what I've kind of been doing the last few years is, try to play good defense at whatever position I'm at and help the team win, help put together quality, professional at bats. That's it really. I'll let it all play out and if I come in and hit, I'll probably play more than not."

Peguero and Yorke are looking to do the same. They have their eyes set on making the big-league roster and want to make themselves as valuable. Peguero has started learning the basics of third and first base and Yorke will mix in at first base during spring training while also working between second and third.

However, they understand that hitting keeps them in the lineup and being able to play multiple positions just adds to their value.

"Whatever position they need that day, I just want to be able to play it and be a guy, an option to them," Yorke said.

Derek Shelton has spoken about the importance of players being able to play different positions this spring. Ultimately, it's spring training and it allows them to get familiar with a new position. That work could create opportunities for Shelton to exploit different matchups during the regular season when the games matter. 

This is a focus that the Pirates have but it's not necessarily something they focus on when scouting players, according to Ben Cherington. They look for players with athleticism and the defensive capabilities that contribute to being able to move around the diamond. But, he said they don't target players based on their history of playing multiple positions.

Given their team makeup at this point, they want to have the flexibility to move guys around and capitalize on any advantage they might discover.

"There’s nothing wrong with having eight position players who are so good that they just play one position every day of the year, there’s nothing wrong with that either, it’s a good formula if you have it," Cherington said. "We’ve got some guys that are a little closer to that. But, we want to win games, that’s the bottom line. I think for us, right now, the best chance for us to do that is by making sure that guys have enough versatility that they can cover a spot or be in a lineup on a certain day in one spot and maybe do something different the next day."

It's not just the organization that sees the value in it. The players do as well. Kiner-Falefa saw the writing on the wall with the Rangers when Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre and Rougned Odor filled in the infield, so he became a utility player to get on the field and create a floor for himself. 

Yorke, Peguero and Triolo see it the same way, if it gives them the opportunity to be in the lineup, they want to do it.

"It just lets you be available at any time and in any spot," Triolo said. "So I think it’s a good thing."