BRADENTON, Fla. -- In his six years in the Pirates' organization leading up to his promotion to the majors last year, Cal Mitchell seldom played anywhere but right field. From 2019-2021, he only made five appearances at a different position, and even then it was left field.
But this winter, he was approached with a new idea. How about first base?
"I had some chances in the offseason to work with a first base mitt," Mitchell told me. "Taking ground balls, taking some throws... I did bring a glove [to camp], so we'll see."
Will we see it in a game this spring? Well, there are plenty of people who need reps at first base too, and they're not all natural first basemen. Actually, some of them are prospects trying to learn the nuances of the position so they can make a more appealing case for a major-league job.
"We will see guys over there (at first) just for the knowledge of (what to do) during the game when balls go in the gap or there's cuts situations, where are they supposed to be," Derek Shelton said.
That includes Jared Triolo, a minor-league Gold Glove and the Pirates' best defensive prospect. There's just one problem: He's a third baseman by trade. His defense is really good, but not Ke'Bryan Hayes good. The Pirates still had enough faith in him to select his contract and add him to the roster this winter. Very close to the same time that decision was made, Triolo was learning first base at the Get Better at Baseball camp.
On Saturday, he got thrown into the fire and was the defensive replacement at first. He can play shortstop and center field too, but he went to first base to make his major-league camp debut.
"For a first game, surprisingly, it felt really comfortable," Triolo said. "Felt pleased with how I felt out there."
First base was obviously an area that needed overhauled this winter after Yoshi Tsutusgo flopped and the Pirates posted historically bad results from first base. Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi were brought in to add some much-needed stability, but they're both only under contract for one year. First base is potentially up for grabs again in 2024, if not post trade deadline if this season doesn't go the Pirates' way. And with plenty of competition on this roster, first base is a potential landing spot for someone
"We have the two guys that we signed to play first base, but they're on short-term deals," outfielder Matt Gorski ,the team's Willie Stargell minor-league slugger of the year last year, was telling me. "Looking into the future, that could be something I can do."
Even if it's not Gorski, Mitchell, Triolo or any young player long term, last year showed the importance of having multiple players who can play that position. To make sure they aren't in a spot where they have to go to someone because nobody else can do the job.
Versatility has been a talking point for years with this group. At first, it could be a step to something more permanent.
• When talking to Henry Davis at Pirate City earlier this week, I took a peek into his locker and saw only his catcher's mitt.
"Just one glove?" I asked.
"Just one," he answered.
Message received.
Love the attitude, and the Pirates' other top catching prospect, Endy Rodriguez, will get reps at other positions this spring. Rodriguez took reps at first base during the Pirates' workout day at LECOM Sunday.
But Davis also got reps at other positions late last year with the Curve, and since there's a decent chance both will be in Class AAA Indianapolis together at some point early this season, there's going to be some juggling.
First base is a possibility for both as a secondary option, but the clear preference is for both of them to catch, which they will continue to do.
• If first base does wind up going to a true first base prospect down the road, Malcom Nunez has to be the first in line.
Nunez, who turns 22 next week, has some serious raw power and it finally translated into games last year. The key, he said during a conversation I had with him in Altoona last year, was he focused on elevating the ball more, and it resulted in 23 home runs between the Cardinals and Pirates' Class AA and AAA teams last year with an .833 OPS.
"My main focus in the offseason was to keep the ball in the air more and go gap-to-gap because I consider myself a power hitter," Nunez said via interpreter Stephen Morales. "I think that's what's going to bring the numbers up."
And while the sim game at LECOM Park Sunday was fairly quiet offensively, Nunez did rip a loud double down the line to left.
"All conversations about him since we acquired him are he can really swing the bat," Shelton said. "We saw that when we acquired him [in the José Quintana trade], we’ve seen it early in camp and in his BP and we got to see it today in the same game."
• Don't discount Connor Joe in all of this.
He's taking most of his reps in the outfield, but there were plenty of times last year with the Rockies that Joe started in the outfield and then moved to first base once the slow-footed C.J. Cron was pinch-run for late. The Pirates have some speed on the bench and Santana and Choi aren't exactly speedy. Joe can be that versatile bench player Shelton covets.
"Growing up as an infielder, all the movements, the glovework, it's very natural to me," Joe told me about playing first base. "I'm comfortable there."
In that same vein, Miguel Andújar also took reps at first base at Pirate City. The same could apply to him if he earns his roster spot again this spring. He has that opportunity, but he's considered an outfielder first, and there's obviously plenty of competition there as well.
• That just leaves the guys who are going to take the helm this year: Santana and Choi.
The division of labor between first base and designated hitter is to be determined (don't forget to factor Andrew McCutchen into the latter position), but Choi is going to be ramped up a little slower because of his offseason elbow surgery. Both graded similarly defensively last year, so there's not one clear-cut better option for the job. It's going to be about making sure everyone is rested and available.
