Pirates rookie Bligh Madris making midseason adjustments after switching to first base

Bligh Madris will be the first to admit that switching to first base definitely gives him a different view of the game after spending four-plus seasons in the minor leagues playing outfield.

So the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie couldn’t help but laugh about his first play in his first game at first base in the majors.

“Just the irony that my first play over there was a pop-up,” Madris said of his putout of Milwaukee’s Willy Adames on Aug. 3. “I was like, ‘Hey, that’s one thing I’m good at.’”

That Madris is making the midseason switch to playing a new position is quite the adjustment, one Pirates manager Derek Shelton predicted has the promise for its share of growing pains.

“He’s played games in Triple-A down there. His feet move well. He’s a really good athlete,” Shelton said. “But I think the smaller things are going to be just watching him around the bag a little bit, see how he is around the bag and making sure he’s in the right spots in cuts. … There’s probably going to be some stuff that’s really good, and there’s going to be times when we have to talk about things or teach.”

The 6-foot, 208-pounder hadn’t played first base since his sophomore season at Division II Colorado Mesa University, so he received a crash course on the finer points of the position from Triple-A Indianapolis bench coach Gary Green while starting five games at first before being called up to the Pirates. Madris worked with Pirates bench coach Don Kelly before making his starting debut there against the Brewers.

Madris experienced the ups and downs of playing a new position Monday night in a 3-0 loss at the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made a nice pick on an Oneil Cruz one-hop throw in the first inning, then dropped a low pickoff throw by lefty reliever Manny Banuelos in the sixth inning that allowed Geraldo Perdomo to steal second base.

That was compounded when Josh Rojas followed with a bunt down the first-base line. Banuelos didn’t cover first, so Madris made a diving attempt to tag Rojas but couldn’t get the out. That allowed Perdomo to reach third, then score the game’s first run on a double-play ball.

Shelton defended Madris for not attempting to throw out Perdomo.

“He’s got no chance to go to third on that,” Shelton said. “It was a really good bunt. Rojas made a really good bunt, and his only chance was to dive and tag him and hope we get the leg. It was just a well-executed bunt.”

AT&T SportsNet credited Madris for making its play of the game in the seventh inning, when he ran into foul territory in shallow right field to make a basket catch on a pop-up by Christian Walker.

After trading Daniel Vogelbach to the New York Mets and cutting ties with Yoshi Tsutsugo, the Pirates are searching for solutions at first base. Michael Chavis and Josh VanMeter have primarily played there, though both are natural middle infielders. The move gives Madris a chance to escape a crowded outfield and get into the lineup, where the Pirates hope his bat can provide some power.

“First base was still super new to me, so I wasn’t assuming anything, but it’s nice seeing the trust they’re putting in me over there,” Madris said. “I really didn’t foresee anything, but I’m just grateful for every opportunity that I get to play this game every day and wear this jersey every day. That’s all I focus on: How can I help this team win? Do one thing every day to help the team win, whether it’s defense or offense.”

For now, Madris is not only adjusting to wearing a new glove and playing a new position but also getting accustomed to playing closer to the action as a corner infielder after so many years in the outfield.

“Definitely a little daunting, a little faster up here,” Madris said. “I wouldn’t say a little faster. It’s a lot faster. Guys hit the ball a lot harder up here, and when you’re closer to the ball, everything speeds up on you a little bit. Finding that pace of play and that reaction time that I need to have over there is huge, and it’s something I’ll have to get acclimated to over the course of time and how much I’m over there.

“That’s my biggest goal, just to stay the course — and that’s on both sides of the ball, too: hitting and adjusting to the major league level offensively and defensively, no matter what position it’s at — left, right, center or first base.”