Pirates preview: Outfield spotlight
Breakout candidate
Cole Tucker
He loves the game and is athletically gifted, so Tucker might be equipped to handle a reserve role in the outfield, a position he never has played as a pro. A first-round pick six years ago, it’s Tucker’s time — somewhere.
Pressure’s on
Gregory Polanco
Regarded as one of the top prospects in the Pirates organization from 2012-14, Polanco never has hit 25 homers or driven in 90 runs in six major league seasons. The past two were truncated by injuries, and now he must recover from covid-19 before he can contribute in 2020.
By the numbers
.188 — Bryan Reynolds’ batting average in the Arizona Fall League in 2018, the only time in college (Vanderbilt) or pro ball he hit below .300.
.351 — Jarrod Dyson’s combined career batting average at PNC Park and Wrigley Field, where he will play more than half (33 of 60) of his games this season.
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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