Pirates utility player Jared Triolo received his 2024 Gold Glove Award on May 11, at PNC Park. He talked with TribLive reporter Kevin Gorman for this week’s Bucs Beat Q&A:
What’s it like to be playing a new position (shortstop) when you were presented the Gold Glove trophy as the NL’s top utility player?
That’s kind of where my value is at. (Isiah Kiner-Falefa) goes down, and I can step in anywhere. I take a lot of pride in that, for sure.
How difficult is that transition?
It’s been all right. Just talking with IKF, there’s no such thing as a routine ground ball at short. Everything’s got a challenge to it. The limited time, having to read hops, how much grass is in front of you.
What was it like to receive the Gold Glove Award trophy at PNC Park?
It was awesome that they had a ceremony for it and my family got to be here, so it was cool. My parents (Tom and Lesa) and my two brothers, my older brother (Brent) and younger brother (Trey).
What did you think of the hardware?
It’s big and heavy. It’s a sick trophy, for sure. And it’s got (a replica of) the same glove I use on it, so that’s cool. I’m a Wilson guy, too, so they converted it. It looked really sick.
Being a Wilson guy, you don’t get to wear the gold Rawlings patch on your glove. Does getting the trophy make up for it?
It’s really special because I won the minor-league one. I’m going to put this one on my shelf right next to that. It’s going to be sick.
Do you hope to add another Gold Glove to your trophy case?
Absolutely. I’ve got to defend it.
