Pirates Getting Jared Triolo Work In Right Field

Jared Triolo is valued for defensive versatility and infield skill, having played all four infield positions and earning a reputation as a quality defender. The Pirates have expanded his defensive role by using him in right field in each of his past three games, including two starts, after he was previously out of the lineup against the Cardinals. Before this past weekend, he had never started a major league game in the outfield. His outfield experience includes seven Double-A center starts in 2022 and limited right-field time in Triple-A and the majors from 2024-25. Statcast shows strong sprint speed, supporting his ability to cover ground, while his throw velocity is below average but not severely. Outfield competence would help the Pirates manage roster construction and bench flexibility, especially given Marcell Ozuna’s everyday DH role and Ozuna’s struggles this year.

"Pirates utilityman Jared Triolo is on the roster largely because of his defensive versatility and aptitude around the infield. He's seen time at all four infield spots over the years and is generally regarded as a quality defender. The Bucs have recently began to expand that defensive portfolio even further. Triolo has logged time in right field in each of his past three games - two of them starts. He was out of the lineup tonight against the Cardinals."

"Triolo had never started a major league game in the outfield prior to this past weekend. He made seven starts in center at the Double-A level in 2022 and logged six innings in right field (two in the majors, four in Triple-A) from 2024-25. That represented the entirety of his professional in-game experience in the outfield until Monday's start on the grass, though Triolo says he's been working with coaches Tony Beasley and Tarrik Brock on the side ( link via Danny Demilio of Pittsburgh Baseball Now)."

"It's always of some note when a player can expand his defensive versatility, and there's reason to think Triolo can provide solid glovework in the outfield. Statcast places him in the 84th percentile of big leaguers in terms of sprint speed, so he certainly has the ability to cover ground. His average velocity on his throws across the diamond from the hot corner is below average but not egregiously so."

"For the Bucs, if Triolo proves capable of playing the outfield on even an occasional basis, there'd be plenty of roster advantages. Many clubs use the DH spot to rotate players and maximize matchups, but Pittsburgh signed Marcell Ozuna to DH on an everyday basis, so it's all the more important that their bench players have multiple positions in their skill set. Ozuna has struggled badly this year, but even if the Pirates move on and go with a more rotational approach, Triolo playing a decent corner would give them more flexibility with regard to how they round out their bench and even who they could target as the trade dea"

Read at MLB Trade Rumors