Pirates Position Group Breakdown: Quantity Over Quality in Infield

This is one in a series of breaking down the Pittsburgh Pirates position groups leading up to spring training. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ infield this coming season is going to look quite different than it did during last year’s Opening Day in Miami.

Oneil Cruz is now in center field. Jared Triolo won a Gold Glove as a utilityman after starting the season as a second baseman. Rowdy Tellez is still a free agent after he was controversially designated for assignment at the end of last season. The lone holdover is Ke’Bryan Hayes, who is looking to bounce back after an injury-filled season.

Even after designating Alika Williams for assignment on Monday, the Pirates have 13 players on their 40-man roster who have experience playing the infield.

As things currently stand, the starting infield looks more or less set, barring any surprises during spring training.

The Pirates acquired Spencer Horwitz, who spent the 2024 campaign with the Toronto Blue Jays, from the Cleveland Guardians in a trade earlier this winter. The 27-year-old has only 112 games in the big leagues under his belt but carries a respectable .264/.355/.428 batting line.

To his right, Nick Gonzales is the favorite to start at second base. The 2020 first-rounder played in 94 games last season and hit .270 with a .709 OPS and drove in 49 runs.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was acquired by the Pirates from the Blue Jays at last year’s trade deadline, looks destined to be the starting shortstop. The veteran is a strong defender but hit just .240/.265/.322 after joining the Pirates midseason.

And finally, the sure-handed Hayes will look for a healthy season after back issues limited him to just 96 games last year. The 2023 Gold Glove winner will be counted on to continue to provide excellent defense and more with the bat after posting a .573 OPS last year.

Outside of the starting four, the Pirates still have plenty of depth.

The Pirates have made deals for two infield options this winter in addition to Horwitz. Adam Frazier, who spent the first six years of his career in Pittsburgh, was signed to a one-year deal. Additionally, Enmanuel Valdez was acquired from the Boston Red Sox for a pitching prospect.

Triolo will try and make it back-to-back Gold Gloves and could realistically see time at all four infield positions.

Liover Peguero and Ji Hwan Bae, both of whom were well-regarded prospects, have seemingly fallen out of favor but will look to reestablish their status with the organization.

While Peguero and Bae are no longer considered prospects, the Pirates still have a couple who could have prominent roles in 2025. Nick Yorke and Billy Cook were acquired at last year’s trade deadline in separate deals. Both players made their MLB debuts late in the season and showed some good signs after strong minor-league seasons. The Pirates also have Tsung-Che Cheng, who was promoted to Triple-A Indianapolis at the end of last year and is our No. 20 organization prospect.

And finally, there’s Endy Rodríguez, a catcher by nature who has experience at both first and second base. With a fairly-crowded catcher’s room, he could see time at other positions.

But while the Pirates’ have built depth in their infield, they will need a couple of guys to emerge and take substantial steps forward. Otherwise, the infield as a collective could further hinder the Pirates’ ability to have an improved offense.