Pirates A to Z: Jared Oliva made jump from walk-on to majors, ready to learn more lessons

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Nik Turley.

Jared Oliva

Position: Outfielder

Bats/Throws: Right/right

Age: 24

Height: 6-foot-2

Weight: 195 pounds

2020 MLB statistics: Batted .188 (3-16) with six strikeouts, one walk and one stolen base in six games.

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: Drafted by the Pirates in the seventh round in 2017.

This past season: A former walk-on at Arizona, Jared Oliva rose through the minor leagues and had a fantastic Fall League to become one of the Pirates’ top 10 prospects and earn an invitation to spring training.

In 16 Grapefruit League games, he batted .214 (6 for 28) with a home run and three RBIs but also struck out nine times while walking twice. He also had to adjust to shifting from his natural position in center field to left, which could be an adventure with the winds at LECOM Park.

“Not gonna lie, the first couple weeks of big league camp, I was nervous. I tried not to be, but let’s face it, I wasn’t myself there,” Oliva said. “Then the last couple weeks there, I felt like I was showing who I really was, showing who J.O. is, and just try to build off that.”

Oliva was slated to start the season at Triple-A Indianapolis before baseball’s shutdown. He was hoping that he would finish it with the Pirates at PNC Park. In the interim, Oliva spent the summer at the alternate training site in Altoona.

That’s where he lived in a suite with the likes of pitchers James Marvel and Sam Howard and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, sharing space with players who had either had a taste of the major leagues or were on their way.

“So it was a really good group for me to be around,” Oliva said. “I think they helped me.”

What helped Oliva most was how he approached Altoona, his work ethic drawing attention from the coaches and earning him a trip to Cincinnati on the taxi squad in August that eventually paid dividends.

“It was more the fact that the group in Altoona thought the way he was going about things and going about his business and it was a reward for him,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “The group down there thought it would be nice for him to be rewarded and be on a trip, and it’s great to have him here because you can get a lot of experience.”

Not only did Oliva get to work with first base/outfielders coach Tarrik Brock and hitting coach Rick Eckstein, but it was the impression Oliva made on another assistant that eventually led to his late-September call-up after bench coach Don Kelly watched Oliva take batting practice.

“He’s like, ‘Man, this kid looks good. Ball’s coming off hot. Good swings,’” Shelton said. “That’s the thing that really stood out to me. I like the way he swings the bat. It’s aggressive. He gets after it and it’s one of the things that stood out.”

When Jason Martin strained his back during batting practice and was sent to the injured list, the Pirates selected Oliva from Altoona. He made his major league debut on Sept. 21, playing the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs, but got his first MLB hit three days later.

#Pirates No. 10 prospect Jared Oliva goes up the middle for his first big league hit. pic.twitter.com/KyRsutqrEr

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 24, 2020

After going hitless in his first seven at-bats, Oliva hit a Kyle Hendricks 2-2 fastball for a chopper over the mound. Second baseman Jason Kipnis made a backhand stab to stop it but his jump-throw went past first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Oliva got another infield single in the fourth inning, when third baseman David Bote couldn’t backhand a sharp grounder.

The former walk-on had made it to the majors, and his was one of the feel-good stories in a forgettable 60-game season that saw the Pirates finish with the worst record in baseball.

“I love it,” Shelton said. “What it tells me, just from him the person is, he’s got confidence in himself. You’ve got to be pretty confident to walk on in a school like Arizona and know that you’re going to make the club and know you’re going to continue to get at-bats. Most kids when they’re coming out of high school, they want to go somewhere where they’re going to play and be guaranteed they’re going to play. … He chose to walk on, and the fact that he’s a big leaguer I think is really cool, and I think it’s a testament to his belief in his abilities.”

Pirates outfielder Jared Oliva, who will start tonight against the Cubs, talks about the first phone calls he made after learning of his promotion to the major leagues. pic.twitter.com/HZgLhW00fK

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) September 22, 2020

The future: Getting a taste of the majors was a major step for Oliva, who got acquainted with the outfield dimensions at PNC Park and faced top-tier pitching.

Oliva, who turns 25 on Nov. 27, projects as a fourth outfielder but the Pirates could have an opening in center or left, depending on where they play Bryan Reynolds. Oliva has yet to spend any time in Triple-A, however, so it’s possible he could start the 2021 season there.

Heading into the offseason, Oliva said he “wanted to improve on all facets” of his game. He has good speed, a strong arm and a good work ethic. He still wants to show what he can do at the plate.

“From a hitting standpoint, I feel like the last tool to come around for me would be my power,” Oliva said. “I know it’s in there. BP and some balls I’ve hit, it was consistently like, ‘OK, how do I tap into that more often?’”

More than anything, Oliva believes he’s ready for the majors. The summer in Altoona gave him time to sharpen his tools, and he expected to learn some lessons in his short stint with the Pirates.

“It’s an ongoing thing. But I do feel like I can impact this team in a positive way, and help the team win,” Oliva said. “I feel like from the defense, on the bases, in the box, I can bring a lot of different tools and assets that, like I said, we’re here to help the team win. It’s cool to make my debut and all that, individually, but we’re here to help the big-league team win. That’s the whole goal. That should be everybody’s goal. So I do feel like I’m ready. But I’m excited for the failures, excited for the lessons, as weird as it might sound, because I know that’ll help me in the long run.”