BRADENTON, Fla. -- Turning 30 can be traumatic for many people.
However, reaching that age is bringing out the best in Starling Marte. The Pirates are raving about how he is becoming a leader this spring and how he worked over the offseason to gain a better grasp of English so he could communicate more effectively with his teammates.
There is no doubt Marte is the most-talented player in the Pirates’ lineup. He showed that last year by hitting 20 home runs and stealing 33 bases after having his 2017 season cut in half when he was suspended for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Marte has always been more of a follower than a leader. Part of it stems from the language barrier and partly from being deferential to more established players.
Yet the Pirates need some “veteranship” – as former general manager Ted Simmons used to call it – and Marte looks ready to provide it. Talent always trumps leadership, of course, but Marte stepping up in the clubhouse can only help.
• Chris Archer provides leadership in spades despite spending just two months with the Pirates at the end of last season following his acquisition from the Rays in a trade.
Shortstop prospect Cole Tucker, for one, prominently mentioned how much Archer mentored him this spring about what it takes to be a big-leaguer, before he was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Again, it will mean more if Archer pitches to the form that enabled him to be selected to two All-Star Games with Tampa Bay. However, he is clearly a special person and the Pirates got more than a potentially above-average pitcher in the trade.
• Much has been written about Jung Ho Kang’s spring, so I don’t have a whole lot to add.
However, I must admit I am shocked that he has looked so good this spring. I thought Kang would never regain peak form after being away from the major leagues for nearly two full seasons.
Kang deserves to be the starting third baseman. If the Pirates go with Colin Moran instead, they are doing themselves a great disservice.
• Speaking of Moran, he’s a quiet but likeable guy, the kind of person you want to succeed.
However, after watching him play all last season as a rookie and during exhibition play this spring, there is nothing to suggest he will be anything more than a barely-competent major-leaguer. Nothing.
• Of course, the whole third base situation should be moot by next season. Prospect Ke’Bryan Hayes has been one of the most impressive players in camp despite having not played above the Double-A level.
Hayes’ defense has been as good as advertised after winning Gold Gloves in the minor leagues each of the last two seasons. Though he hit just seven home runs with Altoona last year, the power is starting to blossom.
I learned a long time ago not to get too excited by prospects, but it’s hard not to watch Hayes and think he will be a solid major-league third baseman for many years, and probably more than that.
• Another highly regarded prospect, Mitch Keller, allowed 10 runs in four innings in three Grapefruit League outings before being optioned to Indianapolis.
However, the Pirates still believe Keller has a very bright future. That is why they are hoping to tread water with the fifth starter spot through the first couple of the months of the season until Keller is ready for the big leagues.
• It appears the Pirates’ no-risk shot on Melky Cabrera is going to pay off.
The 34-year-old switch-hitting outfielder has shown this spring he can still hit. While his defense is poor, he can at least provide a veteran bat off the bench that can do damage.
If Cabrera makes the club, he will have a $1.15-million salary. That could end up being a bargain.
• JB Shuck has proven by now that he is a 4-A player: Too good for Triple-A but not good enough for the major leagues.
Yet it is easy to see why the 31-year-old outfielder has received big-league chances from five different teams. He has played very good defense this spring and shown he can hit while in camp as a non-roster player.
However, the proof is in this pudding -- he is a .244/.294/.313 career hitter in 1,232 plate appearances.
The moral of the story: Don’t get too excited about spring training results.
• Some trades help both teams. Others are one-sided. And then there are those that help neither team.
The Nov. 14 deal in which the Pirates acquired Erik Gonzalez and two minor-league pitchers from the Indians for Max Moroff and Jordan Luplow is falling into the latter category.
Gonzalez is 3-for-25 with 11 strikeouts this spring. Meanwhile, Luplow is 2-for-24 with 11 strikeouts and Moroff is 5-for-25 with eight punchouts.
Ouch.
• Visiting LECOM Park – the facility formerly known as McKechnie Field, as I prefer to call it – is always a treat. The stadium was built in the 1920s and has been the spring training home to such legendary players as Babe Ruth, Dizzy Dean, Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson and Roberto Clemente.
However, there is one thing about the place that is even cooler than all the history: Grouper tacos are on the menu for the first time this year.
