Jared Triolo Sees Hard Work Pay Off

By Jamie Gatlin

Over the last year, Jared Triolo has made the most of his opportunities with the Pirates. On Thursday, he reached an important milestone as he took part in his first Opening Day at the MLB level.

Entering spring training, Triolo was fighting for a spot on the roster. He rose to his latest challenge by posting a .310 batting average in 16 games. He also showed some power with four extra-base hits, including two home runs. While Triolo was a human highlight reel, his success was no surprise.

Rookie Jared Triolo is creating a name for himself in Pittsburgh.Photo byWikimedia

In 98 games during his first MLB season, Triolo posted a .298 batting average. He drove in 21 runs while playing around the diamond. Although the Nashua, New Hampshire native struggled to drive the ball at times, he still found a way to get on base. In a Pirates lineup that was missing a critical infield bat in Oneil Cruz, Triolo helped fill the void in the second half of the 2023 campaign.

However, Triolo’s impact does not solely lie in his offense. He can play multiple positions, including second base, third base, and first base. While Triolo is expected to see the majority of his time at second, the Pirates can move him around the infield if needed.

Importance to the Pirates

One thing that has impressed many in the Pirates organization beyond Triolo’s versatility is his ability to make adjustments.

“ We saw what he did last year in September,” Shelton told the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Jason Mackey. “The adjustment he made when he went to Indy, he carried it over into September. He’s carried it into spring.”

As Triolo begins his second season in the majors, continuing to get on base will be key. He is not expected to lead the Pirates offense but be a solid complementary piece like last year. It is a challenge he is ready to face.

“I just came in with the intent of making the team, getting my legs underneath me and feeling good at the plate,” Triolo told the Pittsburgh Gazette. “I’ve been taking ground balls everywhere. I feel like I accomplished that, and I’m ready for the season.”

When the Pirates season began against the Marlins on Thursday, Triolo got his first opportunity to strengthen his stake on the second base job. In the minors, the Pirates also have infield prospects such as Liover Peguero and Nick Gonzales, who had time in the majors last year. While they are both talented, Triolo showed during spring training that he is the better option at the moment.

On a Pirates team looking to surprise people, Triolo will be a player to watch. He has had success in the majors and provides reliable defense, which the Pirates need badly. Over the last few years, second base has been a revolving door.

Expectations for 2024

Entering the 2024 season, the Pirates will play the underdog role in a wide-open NL Central. Many experts have picked them to finish last, but Triolo knows a thing or two about defying expectations.

Since making his Pirates debut, Triolo has gone from a bench piece to an important part of the roster. That is due to his hard work and ability to make adjustments against more advanced competition, traits that have gotten him far.

As the Pirates look to build on their success, Triolo will be an important piece as he looks to further cement himself as part of the Pirates' future.

Jamie Gatlin is a Red Sox fan covering Boston sports for Beyond the Monster. He also covers Rutgers Athletics and the Big Ten for USA Today. He can be contacted on Twitter @JamieGatlin17 or via email gatlinjamie1@gmail.com.