Pirates newcomer Riddle ready, willing to fill variety of roles

BRADENTON, Fla. — JT Riddle is a newcomer to a team that almost certainly will have the lowest payroll in the major leagues on Opening Day.

Yet playing for a thrifty organization such as the Pittsburgh Pirates is nothing new to the utility player. Money was a factor in the Miami Marlins deciding not to tender Riddle a contract Dec. 2, which allowed him to become a free agent.

Riddle was eligible for salary arbitration for the first time, and the Marlins were not willing to go through that process with him.

The 28-year-old had spent his entire professional career with the Marlins. They chose him in the 13th round of the 2013 draft from Kentucky then brought him to the major leagues in 2017 and installed him as their starting shortstop.

Yet Riddle is not bitter with how his time with the Marlins ended. He prefers to look at his new opportunity with the Pirates.

The 28-year-old was signed to a one-year, $850,000 contract Jan. 31.

“I didn’t know if they’d let me go, but I knew something had to happen,” Riddle said Friday before the Pirates held a spring training workout at Pirate City. “It’s a little bit different going to a new place. I was with the Marlins through the old ownership and the new ownership.

“It’s kind of different in a new place with new colors, but I’m excited about it. The Pirates showed they really wanted me. They were one of the few teams that offered a big league contract, and a major league contract is definitely better than a minor league contract”

Riddle was exclusively a shortstop during his first two major league seasons. But last May, the Marlins sent him to Triple-A New Orleans to begin converting him to a center fielder.

Riddle returned to Miami on June 1 and started 26 games in center before missing the last 2 1/2 months of the season with a strained right forearm.

While Riddle played right field during his freshman season at Kentucky, he never played center until he got to New Orleans.

“I was still learning center field when I got back to the big leagues, and it was quite an experience,” Riddle said. “It was tough to get comfortable at first. Every time you see a ball, it’s the first time you’ve seen that type of ball, either a line drive right out you, a ball hit straight over your head, a ball you have to catch over your shoulder or whatever else.

“I liked it, though. It was fun.”

While Riddle still considers himself a shortstop, he also knows being able to play center field adds to his value and chances of making the team.

It also doesn’t hurt Riddle that he is a left-handed hitter. Furthermore, he is out of minor league options and would need to clear waivers if the Pirates tried to send him down.

Manager Derek Shelton thinks Riddle could be on the roster as a bench player March 26 when the Pirates open the season at the Tampa Bay Rays.

“He’s a guy you can move all around the field, and that’s important in the National League,” Shelton said.

While Riddle isn’t necessarily ready to give up on the idea of being a regular in the major leagues, he is willing to adapt to a utility role.

“I’m here to do whatever I can to help the team win,” Riddle said. “If Pittsburgh wants me to play short, second, third, some in the outfield, that’s fine with me. I just want to earn a spot on the team and help the Pirates win games. That’s why I’m here.”