In 2nd spring training with Pirates, Jared Oliva emerges as dark horse in center field

Jared Oliva will be the first to admit he was uncomfortable at his first major league spring training last year, trying to absorb as much as he could from veterans without stepping on any toes.

That was evident to Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who saw as much trepidation as he did potential in the outfielder, now ranked the team’s No. 12 prospect by MLB Pipeline.

“Last year, when he was in camp … he appeared to be nervous,” Shelton said. “New staff in camp, he was very tentative about everything. This year, he looks like he’s having fun.”

The 25-year-old Oliva is the dark horse in the Pirates’ open competition in center field, behind the likes of Brian Goodwin, Anthony Alford and Dustin Fowler. That hasn’t stopped Oliva from trying to make a positive impression on the coaching staff this spring. He did that with a line-drive laser to left field for a solo home run to spark a five-run sixth inning in the 6-5 loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday night.

“This year, he is having fun, consistent at-bats." #Pirates manager Derek Shelton on Jared Oliva, who just went yard against the Yankees: https://t.co/FTZGGTdYl3 pic.twitter.com/ZDMumzoLEC

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) March 11, 2021

“Last year, being the first time and non-roster, it was good to get the feet wet a little bit, but this camp, I was definitely on a mission in terms of, ‘Yeah, I know the position I’m at,’ ” Oliva said. “A lot of outfielders do. It’s about realizing now I can play a little more of a role in helping the team. I guess it’s different than last year where I was kind of looking to get my foot in the door, get an opportunity in the big leagues, where this year, it’s more, ‘How can I stay there?’

“That’s always the common thing with players. It’s ‘get in the big leagues, how do I stay there?’ That’s the goal I’m trying to accomplish because I feel like I can help this team win. The more I’m around these coaches, they give me the tools and the knowledge to help me apply it to my game so that can happen.”

Oliva is fully recovered after being scratched from the lineup before the March 2 home opener against the Detroit Tigers when his back tightened up during batting practice, which cost him a start in center field.

When the same thing happened to Jason Martin late last September, it prompted the Pirates to promote Oliva to the major league roster after spending the summer at the alternate training site in Altoona. In six games, Oliva batted .188, with twice as many strikeouts (six) as hits (three) in 16 plate appearances.

More importantly, Oliva got a first-hand look at the unique outfield dimensions in left and center field at PNC Park and to watch and learn how Pirates hitters Ke’Bryan Hayes and Colin Moran went about their daily business before games during a regular season in a pandemic.

“Spring training, everyone gets the routine, but when you’re around the team and you see everybody first-hand, things are a little bit more split up now, especially with the protocols,” Oliva said.

“Just seeing how everybody operated and learning what they did to prepare, I thought was big, and just asking a guy, ‘Hey, why do you like to do this? Why do you like to do that? Why a machine?’ and just hearing their reason for it, there’s a reason some of these guys have been in the lineup the last two or three years. They do a lot of things very well, so it’s a good thing for me to kind of take some things from them and try to apply it to my game.”

It inspired the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Oliva to spend the offseason working to improve his first step to get a better jump on balls in the outfield, as well as on his hips and glutes to get grounded at the plate. In three Grapefruit League games, he is hitting .333 (2 for 6) with a home run, a walk and two RBIs. With the Pirates facing a 5-0 deficit against the Yankees on Wednesday night, Oliva opened eyes by sparking a five-run sixth inning with a home run off Justin Wilson.

“You know that anytime a guy leads off an inning with a base hit or even more so a home run that the team is going to rally. When you see some balls land and see some balls drop, it kind of gives everybody a sigh of relief and gets them antsy to get up to the plate. The game just kind of takes over, the momentum,” said Goodwin, whose grand slam tied the game. “I really like his swing a lot, honestly. I like how he plays the game. I like how he comes to the ballpark every day. He’s a great dude and I have a good time playing alongside him.”

Oliva slashed .277/.352/.398 with 24 doubles, six triples and six home runs with 42 RBIs in 123 games in Double-A Altoona in 2019, then spent the majority of last season there at the alternate training site before making his major league debut Sept. 21 against the Chicago Cubs.

But never has played in Triple-A, so it’s likely he could start the season at Indianapolis. Oliva knows the signing of Goodwin and trade for Fowler might be obstacles that block him from making the major league roster out of spring training. Then again, Oliva also is acutely aware starting left fielder Bryan Reynolds played all of 13 games at Triple-A before being promoted and vying for NL Rookie of the Year honors in 2019.

Now that he has had a taste of the majors, Oliva has his sights set on getting back to PNC Park with the Pirates sometime this season.

“Absolutely,” Oliva said. “Getting that last week up there, I felt like I was ready and able to help the team win. But going into the offseason, another big league camp, I feel like I can contribute and help this team win. I think everybody here feels that way, so it’s just a matter of continuing to take advantage of opportunities. There’s a lot of guys here. It’s a cool group to be around. We’re really just looking forward to getting better. If that’s the case, so be it, but I feel like I’m ready to contribute and help this team win.”