Position preview: Gonzales looks to solidify every day role
The offseason has been quiet for Ben Cherington and the Pirates' front office. Outside of a few additions via free agency and trades, they haven't done much to improve the roster. So, as spring training approaches and the team heads to Bradenton, Fla, there are questions that need to be answered.
That being said, welcome to the third edition of our 2025 positional preview. I started with catcher and first base and will be working my way around the diamond before finishing with the starting rotation and bullpen on Sunday and Monday, respectively. We'll look at what players are in the hunt for playing time, take a look back at what happened in 2024 and what the outlook is for 2025. Hope you enjoy it.
• Position: Second base
• Players:Nick Gonzales, Adam Frazier, Jared Triolo, Nick Yorke
• 2024 review: After being drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, Nick Gonzales started to show what he's capable of. While he began the year in Indianapolis, where he hit .356/.429/.600 with a 1.029 OPS in 34 games, Gonzales was called up on May 10 and hit .270/.311/.398 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs. He wasn't the most consistent -- he hit .214/.247/.286 in July after hitting for a .319 average in May -- but was a solid bat in the lower part of the lineup that came through on occasion in crucial situations. He played 230 2/3 innings at second base in 83 starts and also made seven starts at shortstop. He recorded a .987 fielding percentage at second base and a 2 OAA between the two positions, according to Baseball Savant.
Jared Triolo, who won a Gold Glove as a utility infielder, Alika Williams, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Nick Yorke all played second as well.
Kiner-Falefa was acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline and was used as a utility infielder. However, he was much better for Toronto at the plate. In 83 games, he produced a 3.2 WAR and hit .292/.338/.420 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs and a .758 OPS. While it came in 33 less games, his numbers decreased with the Pirates as he hit .240/.265/.322 with a .587 OPS and struck out four more times in 49 less at bats.
Triolo mainly played third but patrolled second before Gonzales got called up. He was good defensively with a .995 fielding percentage, which was above league average, and recorded a 6 Rdrs at second base. However, he hit .200/.266/.247 in April with one home run and nine RBIs. He finished the season hitting .216/.296/.611 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs.
• 2025 outlook: Gonzales is looking to take another step forward and solidify his strangle hold on the position, but the addition of Adam Frazier, acquisition of Nick Yorke at last year's trade deadline and return of Triolo will create a competitive atmosphere in spring training.
Gonzales will likely see a majority of the time at second. His 2024 campaign was solid and while he was up-and-down at times, he finished with the eighth-best batting average among second basemen with at least 350 plate appearances, according to FanGraphs. However, he also recorded a 4.7% walk rate, which was in the bottom 7% of the league, according to Baseball Savant.
The Frazier signing is interesting given the versatility that already exists in the infield. Kiner-Falefa and Triolo can play multiple positions and while he doesn't have a lot of major-league experience, Yorke has played second, third and the outfield. Frazier has done much of the same throughout his nine-year major-league career. However, the veteran utility player, who started his career in Pittsburgh and garnered his only All-Star appearance in 2021 before being traded to the Padres, is 33 years old and is coming off the worst season of his career.
Frazier hit .202/.282/.294 with a .576 OPS and added just four home runs and 22 RBIs last season. However, he dealt with a thumb injury that forced him to spend time on the injured list, which was followed by offseason surgery. Still, he's played for four teams since 2021 and has put up decent numbers. His 2023 campaign with the Orioles was his best as he hit .240/.300/.396 with 13 home runs, 60 RBIs and produced a 1.7 WAR, his highest mark since leaving Pittsburgh.
A platoon with Gonzales and Frazier could be an option, but one would guess the Pirates would want to give Gonzales as much playing time as possible. However, as a left-handed hitter, Frazier has hit .268/.333/.397 with a .730 OPS against righties in his career compared to .246/.305/.340 and a .646 OPS against lefties. In his limited time at the major-league level, Gonzales has hit .269/.312/.446 against left-handers and .250/.296/.363 against right-handers.
Triolo is another option to fill in at second, but it will depend on Ke'Bryan Hayes' health. Hayes played in 96 games but missed the end of the season due to back issues. If he's healthy, could fill in around the infield.
Yorke is also an option, but he'll have to prove himself in spring training. In 11 games last season he hit .216/.286/.378 with two home runs, five RBIs and struck out 12 times in 37 at bats. It's a small sample size, but it's something that he can build on to earn a spot.
As a former Top 10 pick, Gonzales will surely get the opportunity to win the position outright as an every day player. He's shown promise during the last two seasons, but with the signings the Pirates have made and the players that are returning, he'll definitely be pushed to earn his spot.
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
9:38 pm - 02.06.2025DOWNTOWNPosition preview: Gonzales looks to solidify every day role
The offseason has been quiet for Ben Cherington and the Pirates' front office. Outside of a few additions via free agency and trades, they haven't done much to improve the roster. So, as spring training approaches and the team heads to Bradenton, Fla, there are questions that need to be answered.
That being said, welcome to the third edition of our 2025 positional preview. I started with catcher and first base and will be working my way around the diamond before finishing with the starting rotation and bullpen on Sunday and Monday, respectively. We'll look at what players are in the hunt for playing time, take a look back at what happened in 2024 and what the outlook is for 2025. Hope you enjoy it.
• Position: Second base
• Players: Nick Gonzales, Adam Frazier, Jared Triolo, Nick Yorke
• 2024 review: After being drafted with the seventh overall pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft, Nick Gonzales started to show what he's capable of. While he began the year in Indianapolis, where he hit .356/.429/.600 with a 1.029 OPS in 34 games, Gonzales was called up on May 10 and hit .270/.311/.398 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs. He wasn't the most consistent -- he hit .214/.247/.286 in July after hitting for a .319 average in May -- but was a solid bat in the lower part of the lineup that came through on occasion in crucial situations. He played 230 2/3 innings at second base in 83 starts and also made seven starts at shortstop. He recorded a .987 fielding percentage at second base and a 2 OAA between the two positions, according to Baseball Savant.
Jared Triolo, who won a Gold Glove as a utility infielder, Alika Williams, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Nick Yorke all played second as well.
Kiner-Falefa was acquired from the Blue Jays at the trade deadline and was used as a utility infielder. However, he was much better for Toronto at the plate. In 83 games, he produced a 3.2 WAR and hit .292/.338/.420 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs and a .758 OPS. While it came in 33 less games, his numbers decreased with the Pirates as he hit .240/.265/.322 with a .587 OPS and struck out four more times in 49 less at bats.
Triolo mainly played third but patrolled second before Gonzales got called up. He was good defensively with a .995 fielding percentage, which was above league average, and recorded a 6 Rdrs at second base. However, he hit .200/.266/.247 in April with one home run and nine RBIs. He finished the season hitting .216/.296/.611 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs.
• 2025 outlook: Gonzales is looking to take another step forward and solidify his strangle hold on the position, but the addition of Adam Frazier, acquisition of Nick Yorke at last year's trade deadline and return of Triolo will create a competitive atmosphere in spring training.
Gonzales will likely see a majority of the time at second. His 2024 campaign was solid and while he was up-and-down at times, he finished with the eighth-best batting average among second basemen with at least 350 plate appearances, according to FanGraphs. However, he also recorded a 4.7% walk rate, which was in the bottom 7% of the league, according to Baseball Savant.
The Frazier signing is interesting given the versatility that already exists in the infield. Kiner-Falefa and Triolo can play multiple positions and while he doesn't have a lot of major-league experience, Yorke has played second, third and the outfield. Frazier has done much of the same throughout his nine-year major-league career. However, the veteran utility player, who started his career in Pittsburgh and garnered his only All-Star appearance in 2021 before being traded to the Padres, is 33 years old and is coming off the worst season of his career.
Frazier hit .202/.282/.294 with a .576 OPS and added just four home runs and 22 RBIs last season. However, he dealt with a thumb injury that forced him to spend time on the injured list, which was followed by offseason surgery. Still, he's played for four teams since 2021 and has put up decent numbers. His 2023 campaign with the Orioles was his best as he hit .240/.300/.396 with 13 home runs, 60 RBIs and produced a 1.7 WAR, his highest mark since leaving Pittsburgh.
A platoon with Gonzales and Frazier could be an option, but one would guess the Pirates would want to give Gonzales as much playing time as possible. However, as a left-handed hitter, Frazier has hit .268/.333/.397 with a .730 OPS against righties in his career compared to .246/.305/.340 and a .646 OPS against lefties. In his limited time at the major-league level, Gonzales has hit .269/.312/.446 against left-handers and .250/.296/.363 against right-handers.
Triolo is another option to fill in at second, but it will depend on Ke'Bryan Hayes' health. Hayes played in 96 games but missed the end of the season due to back issues. If he's healthy, could fill in around the infield.
Yorke is also an option, but he'll have to prove himself in spring training. In 11 games last season he hit .216/.286/.378 with two home runs, five RBIs and struck out 12 times in 37 at bats. It's a small sample size, but it's something that he can build on to earn a spot.
As a former Top 10 pick, Gonzales will surely get the opportunity to win the position outright as an every day player. He's shown promise during the last two seasons, but with the signings the Pirates have made and the players that are returning, he'll definitely be pushed to earn his spot.
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