Ready in a pinch: Pirates' Wilmer Difo credits preparation for leading majors in pinch hits

When it comes to his career numbers as a pinch hitter, Wilmer Difo is hovering at the Mendoza Line. His batting average in that role was even worse when he was with the Washington Nationals.

What once served as a scarlet letter, Difo now wears like a badge of honor. The Pittsburgh Pirates utility player leads the major leagues in both pinch hits and batting average amongst pinch hitters with at least 15 at-bats, after starting 7 for 20 (.350) this season.

“It makes me very happy because I put in so much work,” Difo said. “I get here very early. I train hard, I work hard. Whether I’m playing or not, I’m already locked into the game. Even if I’m not playing, I’m locked into the game. I’m focused. I always have a bat in my hands. I’m getting my reps because I know, in some situation, my team is going to need me. I’m grateful that all the work and preparation is paying off.”

That hasn’t gone unnoticed by Pirates manager Derek Shelton, a former hitting coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, or bench coach Don Kelly. They see Difo wearing his helmet and batting gloves in the dugout, preparing for his turn to replace the pitcher in the batting order.

“He embraces it. He’s ready to hit from jump street,” Shelton said. “So, that shows you that he’s ready. And then he takes that mindset into the at-bat and has done a really nice job with it. … Being a switch hitter and giving us options and making the other manager have to make decisions is definitely a bonus for us.”

Difo has earned the respect of his teammates not only for being willing to hit in a pinch but delivering when he does. He hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning of a 7-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on April 11, doubled and scored a run in the eighth inning of a 6-2 win over the San Diego Padres on April 12 and had the game-winning RBI on a single in the seventh in a 2-1 win over the Kansas City Royals on April 27.

“That’s a testament to him as a player — coming off the bench, being locked in all the time, and he wants to win,” Pirates second baseman Adam Frazier said. “Guy’s a competitor. He leaves it out there every day, whether he’s in the lineup or just comes in for a pinch-hit. It’s not easy to do that. I’ve done it in the past. You’ve just got to come in and react, usually to a good arm out of the bullpen. That’s who he is. He’s locked in all the time, gives himself a chance to have success.”

What the Pirates value is Difo’s versatility. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder is a switch hitter who can provide pop as a lefty, where he’s batting .267 with a double, two triples, a home run and six RBIs.

A natural shortstop, Difo has started nine games at four positions — three in center field, three at third base, two in right field and one at second base — but believes that the regular playing time has helped his approach to the game. That’s something he takes to the plate.

“One of the biggest things that’s helped me out is the playing reps,” Difo said, crediting general manager Ben Cherington and Shelton for providing playing time. “Even if I have to come off the bench, it helps me with the timing. It has my timing right, my feel right, my whole game and mentality in that situation right. The whole mindset of being locked in, being focused but also getting more playing time helps. Even if I have to sit and I’m coming off the bench because I’m getting more playing time, it helps me out making sure my timing is still there. I’m not losing my time.”

Where the Pirates have to be careful is how they use Difo. He’s batting .179 (7 for 39) as a regular, with 14 strikeouts and only two walks. That’s not to suggest Difo doesn’t have his moments — he was 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored in a 6-5 win over the Cubs on May 9 — but rather that he’s adjusting to a greater workload.

Difo played in 43 games in 2019 and only a dozen games last year. He’s already appeared in 30 games this year, despite not making the Opening Day roster out of spring training and starting the season at the alternate training site.

“I think you have to be mindful of that, not only guys that are traditionally bench players but with the volume that they played last year,” Shelton said. “We’re in a situation where we’ve played a lot of guys, especially infielders because we have some infielders banged up. So we have to be mindful of that and work through it and monitor their pre-game volume as much as we can.”

Not that Difo is complaining. He’s getting an opportunity with the Pirates that he hasn’t had since 2018, when he played in 143 games for the Nationals. If anyone understands the challenge of performing in a reduced role, it’s Difo. That’s why he prepares like a starter and approaches his pinch hits like he was ready all along.

“Coming off the bench is not easy,” Difo said. “I have a huge respect and a huge value to any player that’s in that position. That’s a tough situation to come in, to come off the bench.

“I’m very grateful to the Pirates organization, not only for trusting me but providing me with playing time. Throughout my whole career, that’s all I’ve wanted, just to play ball — no matter what position, I’m always equipped, always prepared. I’m one of the hardest workers here, constantly trying to be prepared for the game and whatever situation the team needs me. I’m always ready. Hopefully, the more playing time I get, the more I can prove to them that I need to be on that field.”