Triolo using natural gifts, technology to succeed

Jared Triolo made an error March 28, missing a toss from shortstop Oneil Cruz at second base in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ season opener against the Marlins in Miami.

It happens. But let’s put that gaffe in an interesting light.

• Triolo more than made up for that second-inning error by driving home the eventual winning run in the 12th.

• He played in 55 of the ensuing 64 games, starting 52 of them, without committing another error.

• That’s one error in 182 chances (112 assists) this season while playing second base and third base.

• Gold Glove third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, beset by on-and-off back soreness, has committed four errors in 119 chances (84 assists).

Triolo has found his ticket to the big leagues, and it fits on his left hand every day.

”Just preparation and anticipation of pitches,” Triolo said after the Pirates concluded a 4-2 homestand. “Getting reps in a row and seeing balls off the bat.”

At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Triolo has the length to reach groundballs and loopers that others might miss. But there’s more to fielding than good genetics and a daily routine of pregame infield drills.

Triolo said PitchCom helps. The two-year-old communications system employs wrist and belt bands, ear pieces, transmitters and receivers that allow players on the field (not just pitchers and catchers) to hear what type of pitch is coming.

”Kind of reading into where it’s supposed to be thrown and where you think the result and the ball is going to be helps a lot,” he said. “If you know an off-speed pitch is coming, there’s a good chance (the batter) is going to pull the ball or be early. It helps you get an little extra step or extra movement towards that way.”

Now that Hayes is off the injured list and Nick Gonzales is hitting .310 with an .845 OPS, Triolo is not in the lineup every day. He started Sunday at third base against the Minnesota Twins and drove in a run in the Pirates’ 11-5 loss. It was his first start since Wednesday.

Triolo, 26, is in his second season with the Pirates after they selected him in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft from the University of Houston. He’s been a reliable hitter at every level, including his final two seasons with Houston (.344 and .332), Single-A Greensboro (.304), Double-A Altoona (.282), Triple-A Indianapolis (.287) and the Pirates last year (.298).

This season, Triolo is hitting only .215, with a .573 OPS, three home runs and 20 RBIs. He’s had his moments — three RBIs vs. the Chicago Cubs on May 17 and three hits against the Toronto Blue Jays on June 1 — but he still is adjusting to major-league pitching.

While discussing player development, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington used Triolo as an example of how performance shouldn’t be focused solely on statistics such as batting average but rather overall contributions.

“Ultimately, it’s all about winning,” Cherington said Saturday. “There’s lots of ways to contribute to a game, and offense is one of them. It’s not the only one. There’s an opportunity for young players, as they’re learning how to hit at the major league level, to still do other things.

“Jared Triolo’s the example that comes to mind a lot for me as a player who his offensive numbers aren’t popping yet the way that he wants them to and the way we think they can in time. But when he’s in the game, he seems to find a way to help the team in some way, whether it’s on the bases or defensively or maybe having a tough at-bat in a key situation, a situational at-bat.

“I think that’s where we want to try to keep the emphasis on just trying to find a way to help the team win. The offensive part is hard. Let’s not put too much emphasis on that. We trust the players are going to continue to work hard and take the feedback. Over time, if there’s enough ability there, it will turn into production.”

Triolo’s production on defense is already approaching elite level.

”I like to help the team any way I can,” he said. “Pitchers care a lot about getting outs and stopping runs. Glad to be a part of that.”

Similar to Gonzales’ upbringing, Triolo honed his skills in sibling competition — he has two brothers, one older and one younger — and claims to be “absolutely” the best of the trio.

But he did get good advice from his brothers and father: “Just being ready for every pitch, wanting the ball (in the field) and playing hard and having fun.”