Pirates preview: Infield spotlight
Breakout candidate
Jacob Stallings
No one will mistake him for Jason Kendall, but Stallings hit a cumulative .290 in three Triple-A seasons and .262 for the Pirates last year. Not bad, but he’ll get more at-bats in 2020 and will need to improve on his total of 13 RBIs.
Pressure’s on
Colin Moran
He drove in 80 runs in 2020, almost when no one was paying attention. That’s because his 14 errors at third base caused a stir, creating questions about whether he is the long-term answer there. Ke’Bryan Hayes eventually will challenge him.
By the numbers
.989 — Adam Frazier’s fielding percentage last season (tied for third among MLB second basemen).
1 – Seasons 17-year veteran Bill Mazeroski’s fielding percentage was better than .989.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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