Since Major League Baseball's summer camps started, there has been a slow but steady stream of players opting out of the season, citing health concerns. Buster Posey, David Price and Jordan Hicks are some of the more notable players so far, and there could be more as the season progresses.
Jarrod Dyson, the Pirates' starting center fielder, will not be one of those players. He is, well, let's say motivated, to play.
"Nah, I wasn't thinking about opting out. I need my money," he said during a Zoom call Tuesday at PNC Park.
Before you get any ideas, he was cracking a joke. A pretty good one at that. He does that a lot with Derek Shelton and his teammates to help keep the energy loose.
It wasn't like his introductory interview after signing with the team in February, when he told reporters, quite bluntly, that he was a Pirate because there "ain’t too much out there right now.”
That might have been a shaky introduction to Dyson and Pirates fans, but in the clubhouse during spring training, it was different. He immediately fit in with the rest of the team, with many younger players gravitating to him. The Pirates were looking for a veteran presence for their young position players, and he was providing just that.
Now, after 3 1/2 months away from the team because of the shutdown, he still is filling that role.
"I think my personality fits the description for this bunch," Dyson said. "I've been around for a little while. I love to crack jokes, love to have fun, and also I love to get my work in. You see an old guy like me going about his business like that, the rest will follow. You can't make no excuses. If you've got somebody at 35 running the bases hard and doing their stuff hard, it makes the young guy feel like, 'Hey, I can't make no excuses. I've got to go hard, too.' "
The Pirates were missing leadership last year, and clubhouse drama eventually led to fights, lots of losing and the firing of Clint Hurdle. This offseason, Joe Musgrove talked about wanting to be more of a leader. Free agent Derek Holland has also been a positive influence to the pitchers.
But the hitters knew they needed someone like that, too, especially in a year that has already presented plenty of challenges because of the pandemic.
"I think being vocal and leadership plays an important role in every team. I think you just need that," Dyson said. "You just need that no matter what team you're on, 'cause you've got to have somebody go lead. Somebody that's been there and know how to get the push going and know how to get the best out of them. Being vocal and being a leader is something every team needs."
Dyson checks a lot of blocks the Pirates were looking for. He's a 10-year vet. He's a World Series champion, with the Royals in 2015. And he loves to talk. You just might be able to hear some of that talk on broadcasts from empty stadiums this year if teams do not pump in crowd noise.
The Pirates talked to Dyson about being vocal and a leader when they signed him. He saw it coming, and wanted to have that role.
"As an older guy, you kind of already know that [you need to be a leader] when you look at the roster and realize that everybody's 28 [years old] on down," Dyson said, again with a chuckle. "Being an older guy, you're always going to come in and show leadership and give you experience on the game. Trying to help out as much as possible 'cause that's our way of giving back to the game."
But Dyson wasn't brought in just to be a leader. He can play a mean center field, too.
"We were lucky we were able to sign (Dyson) late," Shelton said during a Zoom call Monday night. "He definitely solidifies the middle of the field. He’s like the Energizer Bunny. The guy continues to age, but his speed maintains and he continues to play really good defense. That’s something that’s important to us."
In a shortened season, speed and defense are going to be even more important than usual, and Dyson provides both. And while he can joke that he came to camp for the paycheck, his actions speak otherwise. He wouldn't have gone to Christian Academy High School in Mississippi to use their weight room and pitching machine to stay ready throughout the shutdown otherwise.
"When you play ball, you have one goal in mind. That's winning. That's going to bring you together," Dyson said. "Everybody in here, we love the game, otherwise we wouldn't be here."
MORE CAMP COVERAGE
• Moran set to start season at third
• Brubaker sees shot at rotation
• Pirates, Indians to play exhibitions
