Pirates assistant Jared Triolo he is listed because of his versatile defense and ability in the interior. He has seen time at all four infield spots over the years and is generally considered an elite defender. The Bucs just started to stretch that defensive unit. Triolo has logged time in right field in each of his last 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 represents all of his high-level experience in the outfield until Monday’s start on the turf, though Triolo said he’s been working with coaches Tony Beasley and Tarrik Brock on the sideline (link by Danny Demilio of Pittsburgh Baseball Now).
It’s always noticeable when a player can improve his defensive ability, and there’s reason to think that Triolo can provide a solid glove in the outfield. Statcast ranks him in the 84th percentile of major leaguers in terms of run speed, so he has the ability to cover the field. His average velocity on his throws on the diamond from the hot corner is below average but not spectacularly so.
For the Bucs, if Triolo shows he can play outside or occasionally, there could be a lot of upside for the program. Many clubs use the DH position to rotate players and increase matchups, but Pittsburgh signed Marcell Ozuna going to DH every day, so it’s very important that their bench players have multiple positions in their skill set. Ozuna has struggled this year, but even if the Pirates move forward and make changes, Triolo playing a decent corner will give them some flexibility in terms of how they structure their bench and who they can target as the trade deadline nears.
In a quick sense, Triolo’s exploration of the outfield gives the captain Don Kelly more options to consider when navigating what is expected to be a nearly month-long absence for sluggers Ryan O’Hearnwho has spent most of his time in the relevant field this year. Hope Joshynxon Garcia he may get more opportunities in O’Hearn’s absence, but Triolo does a good job of swinging well. Jake Mangum among the saved team options; he hit .275/.339/.459 in 122 plate appearances against lefties last season.
Triolo may need to increase his overall production at the plate, however. He received minimal playing time in 2026 and slashed .259/.310/.296 in 59 plate appearances. In parts of four seasons with the Pirates, he entered the batter’s box 1,090 times and posted a .238/.320/.344 (86 wRC+) line. But if there isn’t much left in the tank, adding a field to his skill set also benefits him as he moves closer to solving problems this winter and potentially ending his remaining years. Triolo was not sent down in 2026 but has only one league year left. If he is demoted for 20 days at any time this season, he will need to remain on the roster for the following seasons or be designated for assignment.
