The Pittsburgh Pirates should be set at second base for a long time.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have a lot going on for them, and while there is still a decent amount of developments that are up in the air, the team has a bright spot at second base.
The Pirates have young, rising talent at the position for the next few years.
Bleacher Report writer Joel Reuter laid out how he thinks the Pirates will handle their second basemen from now until the end of the decade.
Present: Nick Gonzales (Age: 25)
Gonzales spent three years ranking at New Mexico State before going No. 7 overall in the 2020 draft, and after a huge pro debut at High-A in 2021 his prospect star faded a bit when he struggled in the upper levels of the minors. He hit .270/.311/.398 with 19 doubles, seven home runs, 49 RBI and 0.9 WAR in 94 games last year, and enters camp as the favorite for the second base job.
Future: Termarr Johnson (Tier: 2)
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 draft on the strength of his elite hit tool, Johnson has batted just .239 over his first three professional seasons, though his elite on-base skills have propped up his game. He has a .390 on-base percentage and 18.6 percent walk rate in 252 games, and while he has fallen short of expectations so far, he is still only 20 years old and does not turn 21 until June.
Five-Year Prediction: Gonzales (2025-26), Johnson (2027-29)
BD community, how do you feel about the Pirates’ second base prospects for the future? Chime off in the comments below.