Pirates rookie outfielder Jared Oliva's black book has new entries for his first MLB hits

Jared Oliva started jotting down notes in a black book in the fall of his freshman year at Arizona, a way for the wide-eyed walk-on to track his progress at tryouts for the defending national champions.

“I was trying to make the team,” Oliva said. “There’s 55 dudes for a 35-man roster and I’m like, ‘Man, I’m a high school backup. I need all the help I can get.’ I was just kind of selfishly writing down who I faced — was a quality at-bat or a hit.”

The handwritten notes slowly evolved over the years, becoming a game-by-game look at his past performance in preparation for pitchers he was about to face, from situations to pitch counts.

“It’s stuck with me ever since,” Oliva said. “It’s a good way for me to reflect on what I did that day. It’s cool to write down certain thoughts and go back to games and realize, ‘Hey, I faced this pitcher. This was the thought I had that day.’”

The newest black-book entry will mark a milestone for the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie outfielder, now that Oliva got his first major-league hits by going 2 for 4 in the 7-0 win Thursday over the Chicago Cubs in the home finale at PNC Park.

#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

Oliva hit a Kyle Hendricks 2-2 fastball on a chopper over the mound and through the middle, only to see Cubs second baseman Jason Kipnis snag it with a backhand stab. Kipnis jumped and unleashed an errant throw that sailed past first baseman Anthony Rizzo and allowed Oliva to take second base.

In the fourth inning, Oliva got another infield single with a sharp bouncer to third that David Bote couldn’t stop with a backhand. Oliva, however, was called out when JT Riddle’s grounder between first and second skipped off Oliva’s spikes as he ran toward second base.

Oliva’s rise from walk-on to making the majors is quite the story, one he relishes in retelling and one that brings a smile to Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s face.

“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.”

A 2017 seventh-round pick, , the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder slashed .277/.352/.398 with 24 doubles, six triples, six home runs and 42 RBIs last season in Double-A Altoona. Oliva shined in the Arizona Fall League (.312/.413/.473) and received a non-roster invitation to spring training. He spent this summer at the alternate training camp in Altoona, joining the Pirates’ taxi squad at PNC Park when it ended.

The Pirates rewarded Oliva’s work ethic by taking him on a road trip to Cincinnati as a member of the taxi squad, where bench coach Don Kelly made an observation to Shelton while watching 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.”

Oliva joined the taxi squad again when Altoona’s camp broke, and got the call-up on Monday after Jason Martin strained his back during batting practice. After injuries to Anthony Alford, Cole Tucker and Martin, the Pirates were short on outfielders so Oliva made his first major-league start on Tuesday.

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

As Oliva made calls to share the news of his debut, he was constantly reminded by family and friends of how far he’d come and how much he’s accomplished.

“I’ve got to pinch myself sometimes and realize just how fortunate I am to be here,” Oliva said. “There’s been a lot of people who have helped me along the way and given me some opportunities that not a lot of people can get. Not a lot of high school backups get an opportunity to play at a big-time Division I school. … I’m not gonna lose that walk-on mentality; it makes me who I am.”

Oliva didn’t just make a mental note. He has written reminders in the black book, the same one he’s kept since last year in Altoona.

“I’m writing until the book’s done,” Oliva said. “Hopefully, next year, I’ll have my own big-league book and start a new chapter.”