Nick Gonzales has been placed on the 10-day IL with a non-displaced fracture of the left ankle, Derek Shelton said this afternoon here at loanDepot Park. Enmanuel Valdez will replace him on the active roster. Gonzales will return to Pittsburgh.
Here's Shelton's full media availability:
Gonzales was removed from yesterday's game after hitting a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to give the Pirates a 4-1 lead. He was seen hobbling around the bases and was then replaced by Adam Frazier at second base. Gonzales had hit a few foul balls off his left ankle during a Grapefruit League game against the Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla. and it's something the team has been monitoring since.
Valdez was acquired from the Red Sox on Dec. 15 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Joe Vogatsky. He spent time with the Pirates in major-league camp this spring. In 22 at-bats, he hit .227/.438/.409 with a .847 OPS. He also recorded nine walks and five strikeouts. He moved all over the infield this spring, playing first base, second base and third base, and Shelton said he brings a little versatility.
"We knew he could hit when we acquired him," Shelton said. "Valdy has shown the ability to hit. The fact that he can play all over the diamond is something that we kinda value.”
The 26-year-old infielder played in 76 games for Boston last season and hit .214/.270/.363 with a .633 OPS. He added six home runs and 28 RBIs in 201 at bats.
There were a few other options that the Pirates could've added as well, including Nick Yorke, who played first, second and third this spring and has the ability to play the outfield. When asked about the decision to add Valdez and not Yorke, Shelton said they wanted to get Yorke settled at Indianapolis.
“I think with Nick, we wanted to get him on the ground and get his feet moving a little bit. Valdy has played in the big leagues," Shelton said. "He (Valdez) has played in this role, although Nick Yorke has too. But I think right now, we saw a better fit at the current time.”
This move also creates a depth problem for the Pirates as Gonzales was Isiah Kiner-Falefa's backup at shortstop. Jared Triolo worked there throughout the spring and was taking grounders at shortstop this afternoon before batting practice, so one could assume that he'd be the backup at this point. However, he's a backup at most positions.
“Triolo is still an option at first. He has to be an option at first. I mean, you can see Frazier there, you can see Valdy there," Shelton said. "I think with the way our infield is, especially with having to monitor [Ke'Bryan Hayes] because of the volume he played in spring training, we gotta make sure we get him days. Endy (Rodriguez) is going to catch some. The versatility was one of the things that led us to call Valdy up.”
• The Pirates stole two more bases Friday night, increasing their total through two games to eight, tied for the fourth-most through the first two games of a season since 1920. They are tied with the 1989 Yankees, 1987 Cardinals and 1984 Indians. They trail the 2023 Orioles (10), 1983 Dodgers (9) and 1976 Reds (9).
• Oneil Cruz and Tommy Pham are also the second pair of Pirates teammates to steal at least one base in the first two games of a season since at least 1900, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
• Pham is also the third Pirate since at least 1900 to steal at least one base in each of his first two games with the team, per Elias. He joins Kirk Gibson and Cozy J. Dolan.
• Mitch Keller's six innings of work were his longest start in a season opener.
• The Pirates' defense was on full display, as they turned two double plays and did other good things throughout the evening. Just check out this diving play by Bryan Reynolds in the first inning:
Or this nifty little flip to second by Isiah Kiner-Falefa:
Rodriguez also showcased that he is getting more comfortable at first base as he made a diving tag at first and also turned a double play for the second straight game after catching a lined shot up the line.
"If you talk 20-to-80 in terms of a baseball scale, the play that Endy made is an 80-play," Shelton said. "No. 1 that ball was not only hit down the line, but to step on the bag, turn around and automatically not throw the ball, but instead get a rundown in, and then run the rundown, it was very good. Tommy Pham played really well. He had a couple of tough plays. Oneil had a tough play going into the gap. Bryan got to a ball and cut it off. Mitch fielded two balls, including the line drive, but yeah, we played clean defense today."
Here's Rodriguez speaking about his adjustments at first base:
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THE ASYLUM
Greg Macafee
9:08 pm - 03.28.2025MiamiExtra Bases: Gonzales to IL
Nick Gonzales has been placed on the 10-day IL with a non-displaced fracture of the left ankle, Derek Shelton said this afternoon here at loanDepot Park. Enmanuel Valdez will replace him on the active roster. Gonzales will return to Pittsburgh.
Here's Shelton's full media availability:
Gonzales was removed from yesterday's game after hitting a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to give the Pirates a 4-1 lead. He was seen hobbling around the bases and was then replaced by Adam Frazier at second base. Gonzales had hit a few foul balls off his left ankle during a Grapefruit League game against the Rays in Port Charlotte, Fla. and it's something the team has been monitoring since.
Valdez was acquired from the Red Sox on Dec. 15 in exchange for right-handed pitcher Joe Vogatsky. He spent time with the Pirates in major-league camp this spring. In 22 at-bats, he hit .227/.438/.409 with a .847 OPS. He also recorded nine walks and five strikeouts. He moved all over the infield this spring, playing first base, second base and third base, and Shelton said he brings a little versatility.
"We knew he could hit when we acquired him," Shelton said. "Valdy has shown the ability to hit. The fact that he can play all over the diamond is something that we kinda value.”
The 26-year-old infielder played in 76 games for Boston last season and hit .214/.270/.363 with a .633 OPS. He added six home runs and 28 RBIs in 201 at bats.
There were a few other options that the Pirates could've added as well, including Nick Yorke, who played first, second and third this spring and has the ability to play the outfield. When asked about the decision to add Valdez and not Yorke, Shelton said they wanted to get Yorke settled at Indianapolis.
“I think with Nick, we wanted to get him on the ground and get his feet moving a little bit. Valdy has played in the big leagues," Shelton said. "He (Valdez) has played in this role, although Nick Yorke has too. But I think right now, we saw a better fit at the current time.”
This move also creates a depth problem for the Pirates as Gonzales was Isiah Kiner-Falefa's backup at shortstop. Jared Triolo worked there throughout the spring and was taking grounders at shortstop this afternoon before batting practice, so one could assume that he'd be the backup at this point. However, he's a backup at most positions.
“Triolo is still an option at first. He has to be an option at first. I mean, you can see Frazier there, you can see Valdy there," Shelton said. "I think with the way our infield is, especially with having to monitor [Ke'Bryan Hayes] because of the volume he played in spring training, we gotta make sure we get him days. Endy (Rodriguez) is going to catch some. The versatility was one of the things that led us to call Valdy up.”
• The Pirates stole two more bases Friday night, increasing their total through two games to eight, tied for the fourth-most through the first two games of a season since 1920. They are tied with the 1989 Yankees, 1987 Cardinals and 1984 Indians. They trail the 2023 Orioles (10), 1983 Dodgers (9) and 1976 Reds (9).
• Oneil Cruz and Tommy Pham are also the second pair of Pirates teammates to steal at least one base in the first two games of a season since at least 1900, per the Elias Sports Bureau.
• Pham is also the third Pirate since at least 1900 to steal at least one base in each of his first two games with the team, per Elias. He joins Kirk Gibson and Cozy J. Dolan.
• Mitch Keller's six innings of work were his longest start in a season opener.
• The Pirates' defense was on full display, as they turned two double plays and did other good things throughout the evening. Just check out this diving play by Bryan Reynolds in the first inning:
Or this nifty little flip to second by Isiah Kiner-Falefa:
Rodriguez also showcased that he is getting more comfortable at first base as he made a diving tag at first and also turned a double play for the second straight game after catching a lined shot up the line.
"If you talk 20-to-80 in terms of a baseball scale, the play that Endy made is an 80-play," Shelton said. "No. 1 that ball was not only hit down the line, but to step on the bag, turn around and automatically not throw the ball, but instead get a rundown in, and then run the rundown, it was very good. Tommy Pham played really well. He had a couple of tough plays. Oneil had a tough play going into the gap. Bryan got to a ball and cut it off. Mitch fielded two balls, including the line drive, but yeah, we played clean defense today."
Here's Rodriguez speaking about his adjustments at first base:
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