Injuries leave Pirates with inexperienced options at 1st base, testing depth

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a concerted effort to address first base this past offseason.

Spencer Horwitz was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the hope of creating stability at a position that’s been a revolving door for three-plus seasons, featuring 24 players since the Pirates traded Josh Bell in December 2020.

However, with the 27-year-old Horwitz missing spring training and beginning the season on the injured list following wrist surgery, the Pirates have been forced to utilize a three-man platoon, none of whom are playing their primary position.

Utilityman Jared Triolo, a Gold Glove winner in 2024, Enmanuel Valdez, acquired from the Boston Red Sox in December, and catcher Endy Rodriguez had been the trio splitting reps at first base.

However, Triolo (lumbar spine strain) and Rodriguez (right hand laceration) have been battling injuries, leaving manager Derek Shelton with limited options. Triolo was activated from the injured list Wednesday.

Of the trio, Triolo’s 18 games and 112 1/3 innings at first base are most by a considerable margin.

Rodriguez’s hand injury suffered Monday against the Washington Nationals while attempting to receive a Paul Skenes pitch in the dirt will sideline him until at least April 24, the earliest date he could be activated.

As for Horwitz, he’s still weeks away from potentially beginning a rehab assignment.

Calling up Billy Cook from Triple-A could be another option, as the 26-year-old was tried out for a handful of games at first base late last season in addition to this spring. Cook is hitting .200 for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Valdez has been getting the majority of playing time in Triolo’s absence.

“There are going to be some things that we have to continue to work on,” Shelton said. “I think we are aware of that, and we just have to make sure that we put them in the best position possible.”

Offensively, Valdez is slashing .182/.270/.333 over 12 games, but he is tied for second on the team in RBIs (six) and doubles (three).

Frazier (.176/.218/.235 slash line through 16 games) has also endured a slow start at the plate.

The Pirates gave Frazier a bit of work at first base during spring training, and last year with the Kansas City Royals, he made an abbreviated appearance there for 1 1/3 innings Sept. 28.

However, aside from that, the 10-year veteran estimated the last time he’d seen any action at first base was during collegiate fall ball at Mississippi State.

AP

With the Pirates short-handed at first base due to injury, manager Derek Shelton has said Adam Frazier could be an option.

“And before that would have been All-Stars in Little League,” Frazier said. “(Valdez) has done a pretty good job over there, but if they need me to play first, I’ll play first. Wherever (Shelton) wants me. Whatever I can do to try to help the team win.”

Valdez, 26, is ready to embrace the challenge of eating innings at first base. Upon being traded to Pittsburgh in mid-December, he had no MLB experience there through 125 career games. Valdez’s primary position is second base, where 103 of his 110 big-league starts before this season came.

But navigating through the minor leagues, Valdez did see some time at first base:nine games (72 1/3 innings) at Triple-A in 2022 and 2024.

“I feel good at the position,” Valdez said through Pirates assistant coach and translator Stephen Morales. “Doing reps every day makes it better. It’s not the first time that I’ve played first base, and I feel comfortable there. It’s not like it’s new for me, but I feel better as days go by.”

After Tuesday night, Valdez has made eight major-league appearances at first base for a total of 67 innings.

Shelton alluded to bracing for some growing pains with Valdez.

In Monday’s 10-3 win over the Nationals, two pickoff throws from Skenes, both of which appeared to be well-placed, got past Valdez.

Skenes was charged for throwing errors on both plays, but Valdez took ownership for the gaffes.

“First of all, I think my body was not in the right position to catch those throws,” he said. “They were not bad throws, but neither easy. I think I’m going to have to continue to work on my body positioning just to put myself in the right spot to have a better shot to catch those balls.”

Tuesday’s 3-0 loss to Washington saw Valdez misplay a bunt in the fifth inning, leaving first base undefended for Jacob Young to easily secure a base hit.

But in the sixth, Valdez made a nice backhanded play, batting down a ball hit down the line by Josh the Nationals’ Bell before recovering and getting the ball to Mitch Keller at first base for the out.

Enmanuel Valdez with a diving stop at 1B pic.twitter.com/A7GV9fsfoo

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) April 15, 2025

So far, Valdez owns a perfect fielding percentage.

As he works through the kinks of a new position, Valdez is embracing his role at first base.

“I’m available for whatever they need me to,” Valdez said. “If the call is to play first, or any other position, I’m always available. There’s other people that can play first, too, but whenever they put me at first, I’m going to try to do my best all the time.”