ATLANTA -- Talking to Derek Shelton and members of the Pirates’ clubhouse, the word “exciting” often pops up when referring to the number of rookies currently on the major-league roster and in the starting lineup.
That inexperience has obvious drawbacks too, like Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Braves at Truist Park.
Five rookies started for the Pirates Friday: Roansy Contreras was on the mound, Cal Mitchell and Travis Swaggerty were in the corner outfield spots and Diego Castillo and Tucupita Marcano were the double-play combination. Rookie Yerry De Los Santos pitched in relief and yet another in Jack Suwinski appeared as a pinch-hitter.
Factor in any other prospects the Pirates could call up this year, and the team is positioned to start multiple rookies in just about every game for the rest of this season.
Friday is an example of what could happen when a team starts that many rookies. Contreras misplaced a couple pitches and paid the price. The offense went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base, not doing enough to create offensive opportunities or cash in on the ones that did present themselves.
They aren’t viewing playing that many rookies as a handicap, though. As Ke’Bryan Hayes simply put it, “it’s just baseball.”
“This is not 30 years ago, 20 years ago where a rookie comes up to the big leagues and he has to go through certain factors to get respect,” Derek Shelton said. “We need guys right away to perform.”
But that is why this stage is often called the last big stage in development. It’s the largest leap in opposition quality a player will face, and with over one-third of the active roster rookie eligible (nine in total, once you factor in catcher Tyler Heineman and lefty Aaron Fletcher as the other two), they are doing it together.
And the Pirates aren’t playing down that last part.
“I think it means a lot,” director of coaching and player development John Baker told traveling media Friday. “You look at the other lineup here [with the Braves], it’s really good and really exciting. I think you pick up — I’m thinking about my own experience — a lot from watching other people play. But then you pick up the most from watching other people play, then talking about it with your friends. I think that we’re seeing some of that here.”
When pointed out that the Braves were in a similar situation as the Pirates not so long ago when they were undergoing their rebuild, Baker said building teams in such fashion “seems to be part of the model now in baseball.”
Another team that underwent a similar process was the Cubs with their then manager, Joe Maddon. Shelton was a hitting coach under Maddon with the Rays, and Baker was with the Cubs’ front office and coaching staff when Maddon was with the Cubs.
How Maddon handled rookies has been a guide for what the Pirates want to do when players make the leap.
“When younger players were called up, the same kind of thing, the same kind of experience happened for those guys,” Baker said. “Just right out into the fire, into big situations. Just go out and be yourself, play baseball the way you know how to play baseball. It’s one thing for me to say that out loud. It’s another thing to build an environment and a coaching culture like we’ve done here in the major leagues where players actually get out and actualize that. I think we’ve seen that here.”
This is the first of what will be several road trips Baker will go on with the major-league team, one of the greatest indicators for where this franchise feels they are with how to manage their young team. Other team coordinators like Josh Hopper and Johnny Tucker will also make trips with the pitchers and hitters, respectively, at some point too.
On the major-league coaching staff, Tim McKeithan and Jeremy Bleich have spent part of the seasons in Class AAA Indianapolis working with minor-leaguers who could make the jump this season and to help them continue their individualized drill and practice plans when they reach the majors.
It’s one step to helping players improve and towards building the competitive culture that could elevate this team moving forward.
“What everybody in the major leagues wants is to be able to play every day,” Baker said. “So there are these little thresholds of competition. If we can keep a positive clubhouse culture like they’re doing here, guys are both competing and rooting for each other. That’s something that I think is essential for this process to work for a long period of time.”
MORE FROM THE GAME
• Of course, there is one very noticeable prospect who isn't with the major-league team. For the latest on Oneil Cruz, click here.
• Contreras flashed strong stuff early but was not as sharp as he has been, allowing four runs (three earned) over 4 2/3 innings with eight hits and a walk allowed.
The most crucial of those hits was a two-out, two-strike pulled homer by Dansby Swanson that he doinked off the foul pole in left:
Dansby delivers 2️⃣! #ForTheA | @LieutenantDans7 pic.twitter.com/Q5Dscyd8rE
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 11, 2022
"I feel like I missed a pitch," Contreras said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez. "Things like that are going to happen in the game, but I feel like I just missed a pitch."
Contreras struck out seven. Tyler Beede got seven outs in relief (and pitched through after catching a near 100 mph fastball off his rear) and Yerry De Los Santos pitched a clean eighth.
• The Pirates had no answers for Braves starter Spencer Stride, who went 5 2/3 scoreless and struck out eight.
"He's able to live on that outside corner," Hayes said. "Yeah, I mean, it was the first time we've ever seen him and things of that nature. But I just felt like he had a good command of his pitches."
The Pirates did manage to scratch out a couple runs in the eighth, but it doesn't mask this slump the offense is on. Over their last six games, the Pirates have managed just 12 runs.
"We have to find ways to score," Shelton said. "We had a couple opportunities early. We have some young kids who are learning how to hit at the big league level. That can be challenging."
• Quick roster news: Minor-league catcher Jason Delay is with the team as a member of the taxi squad. A member of the coaching staff reported COVID-19-like symptoms, so Delay was added as insurance for the roster.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Standings
• Statistics
• Schedule
• Scoreboard
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE INJURIES
• 10-day injured list: OF Ben Gamel (hamstring), RHP Heath Hembree (calf), OF Jake Marisnick (thumb), 1B Yoshi Tsutsugo (lumbar muscle strain), Josh VanMeter (finger)
• 60-day injured list: Kevin Newman (groin), OF Greg Allen (hamstring), RHP Blake Cederlind (UCL), RHP Nick Mears (elbow surgery), Roberto Pérez (hamstring, out for season)
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
2. Bryan Reynolds, CF
3. Daniel Vogelbach, DH
4. Michael Chavis, 1B
5. Cal Mitchell, RF
6. Tucupita Marcano, 2B
7. Travis Swaggerty, LF
8. Michael Perez, C
9. Diego Castillo, SS
And for Brian Snitker's Braves:
1. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF
2. Dansby Swanson, SS
3. Austin Riley, 3B
4. Matt Olson, 1B
5. Travis d'Arnaud, C
6. Ozzie Albies, 2B
7. William Contreras, DH
8. Adam Duvall, LF
9. Michael Harris II, CF
THE SCHEDULE
Zach Thompson (3-4, 4.60) will take the bump Saturday against Charlie Morton (4-3, 5.63). First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m.
THE CONTENT
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