Despite spring training being less than a month away, the Pittsburgh Pirates face uncertainty at several positions, including second base. It’s an issue overshadowed by needs in the outfield and the bullpen. Nonetheless, the issue is far from certain.
Seven Competitors Emerge for Pirates’ Second Base Spot
The Incumbent
Nick Gonzales, the Pirates No. 1 draft pick in the 2020 June Amateur Draft, finished 2024 as the regular second baseman. He will probably enter spring training as the favorite to staff the position in 2025. Gonzales debuted with the Pirates on June 23, 2023. By July 7, he was hitting .304/.340/.565 in 46 at-bats. Then he petered out and finished the season hitting .209/.268/.348, 2 HR, and 13 RBI in 35 games. When he didn’t make the team out of spring training in 2024, there were legitimate questions about his future. But he went to Triple-A Indianapolis, kept a good attitude, and hit .356/.429/.600 there. As the Pirates offense continued to sputter, Gonzales was becoming hard to ignore. He earned a call-up on May 9 and hit .270/.311/.398, 7 HR, and 49 RBI in 94 games with Pittsburgh.
However, after last year’s disappointing 76-86 record and last-place finish, no Pirates regular not named Bryan Reynolds should be given a scholarship for the 2025 season. On one hand, Gonzales’ 2024 numbers reflect a marked improvement over 2023. With similar progress in 2025, he may become the hitter he showed himself to be at New Mexico State and in the minors. On the other hand, his 2024 offense was only major league average. If another candidate shows he can be a better hitter in 2025, it will be hard for the run-starved Pirates to disregard him.
The New Kid on the Block
Nick Yorke could be that guy. The Pirates will also give him a look in right field, although Yorke is better suited for second base. General manager Ben Cherington picked up Yorke from one of his favorite trade partners, the Boston Red Sox, at last year’s trade deadline after Yorke hit .310/.408/.490 for Triple-A Worcester. Yorke was instantly ranked as the Pirates No. 6 prospect. He was immediately assigned to Indianapolis, but after he put up a .355/.431/.507 slash line in 40 games, the Pirates called him up on September 16. In 11 games with Pittsburgh, Yorke was just 8-for-37, albeit with two home runs while playing the infield and outfield.
Nick Yorke, 412 feet.
The @Pirates‘ No. 6 prospect leaves no doubt about it on his first home run in the Majors. pic.twitter.com/y28UAfuV5h
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 22, 2024
Working against Yorke is the fact that he has minor league options remaining while there will be several other legitimate middle infield candidates in spring training. Although unlikely to influence any decision, a factor in his favor is that he’s the people’s choice. A Pittsburgh sports fan’s favorite players are always the Pirates’ prospects and the Steelers’ No. 2 quarterback. In any event, a spring training performance matching what he did in Triple-A in 2024 might propel him to a spot as a regular with the big club.
Cash Rules Everything Around Me
Yet another factor is the presence of Isiah Kiner-Falefa, another 2024 trade deadline acquisition, on the roster. More specifically, it’s the presence of his salary. He’s due to make $7.5 million in 2025. Even though the Toronto Blue Jays will pay an undisclosed amount, whatever part comes out of the Pirates treasury is too much for them to pay a bench player. Kiner-Falefa will be in the Pirates lineup either at second base or shortstop.
That may not be the worst thing for Pittsburgh. Although he hit just .240/.265/.322 with Pittsburgh, overall, last year, he hit .269/.306/.376, 8 HR, and 43 RBI with a 3.6 WAR. Had he been with the Bucs all year, that batting average would have placed third on the team. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, comments he made last year indicate he’s a big believer in his teammates. He predicted a 100-win season for 2025. While it’s an understatement to say that might be a bit far-fetched, especially in light of the team’s inactivity during this offseason, Pirates fans loved his attitude. Whether “IKF” is the second baseman this season depends on whether either Alika Williams or Liover Peguero seizes the shortstop job. Neither is a candidate to play second base regularly but can influence the second base competition. “Peggy” is another prospect who’s a fan favorite.
Other Options
Last spring, Jared Triolo emerged with the Pirates second base job after he hit .350/.458/.567 in September 2023, raising his season average to .298/.388/.398. But he started 2024 slowly, opening the door for Gonzales. When needed to replace an injured Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base in September 2024, he hit .253/.300/.374 with three impressive homers. However, we’ve seen that movie before. He’s nothing more than a dark horse candidate to be the regular second baseman. Triolo will make the club because the Pirates like him as a utility infielder, where he has great value and won a Gold Glove Award last year. He may also be needed to man third base again if Hayes’ balky back acts up again.
Surprisingly, Ji Hwan Bae is still on the roster and will compete for a versatile infielder/outfielder spot. He was 2023’s Opening Day second baseman but has largely been a failure as a Pirate. He hit just .189/.247/.216 after last year’s call-up. The on-base skills he’s flashed in the minors, where he has a .386 OBP, have yet to translate to the majors. He debuted in 2022, and one gets the feeling that he’s run out of chances. Bae has an uphill climb to even make the squad in 2025.
The Last Word
The rumor mill says that Cherington will look to improve the Pirates by trade rather than free agency. It’s expected that he may trade from the organization’s rich treasure trove of young pitching. However, he might solve the second base logjam by trading a middle infielder to get the hitters the Pirates need. Once the second base competition is resolved, it should become interesting again in the summer. That’s when Termarr Johnson, the Pirates No. 3 prospect, is projected to arrive in the majors according to mlb.com. Then we’ll see how the tables turn.
Main Photo Credits: John Jones-Imagn Images
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