This is the second part of a series of articles that examines the state of the Pittsburgh Pirates, position by position. The first article of the series can be found here. This article deals with the current shortstop situation and what the future of the position looks like for the Bucs.
Since taking over the position from Clint Barmes in 2013, Jordy Mercer has performed like a consummate professional. Mercer will never be an all-star, but is definitely a model of consistency, solid at every aspect of his position.
Have Mercer
We are on the board in the 7th!@jordy_mercer drives in @fran_cervelli to make it 1-0 us! pic.twitter.com/FKbQOaJfcq
— Pirates (@Pirates) June 19, 2018
Unfortunately, advanced metrics reveal Mercer as a below average fielder at this point in his career. His defensive wins above replacement (WAR) is below league average and the lowest of his career, while other defensive statistics have indicated a decrease in defensive efficiency. Luckily for Mercer, his offensive game has stepped up.
Statistics indicate an adjustment in approach at the plate. A greater emphasis on lifting the ball led to a decrease in contact percentage, from 85.2 percent in 2017 to a career low 78.9 percent this season. His strikeout percentage is 18.7 percent, his highest since 2012. However, swinging and missing more often is actually paying off for Mercer.
¡#LosPiratas aumentaron su ventaja con este jonrón de @jordy_mercer!
Sigan la acción desde Phoenixhttps://t.co/tq4MqPudAi#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/wwsR6gtZIy
— Los Piratas (@piratasbeisbol) June 13, 2018
Mercer’s batting average on balls in play is .309, the highest it has been in five years. His percentage of soft contact has dropped five percent while his medium contact numbers have went up.
Usually a spray hitter, Mercer has pulled the ball more than ever and greatly reduced the amount of balls he drives the other way. His groundball percentage is nearly ten percent lower than his career total, while his flyball and line drive percentages are higher than ever.
These improvements have led to greater production at the plate for Jordy Mercer. His batting average is .261 this season, which is six points higher than his average from 2017. His offensive WAR is already 0.8, which should exceed last season’s 1.4 mark. He also has 17 doubles, putting him on pace to surpass his career high of 27 in 2014.
Turning thirty-two this August, Mercer’s window as a starting shortstop is beginning to close. The other two men who have played shortstop for the Bucs this year are not good alternatives.
Sean Rodriguez and Max Moroff are both anemic hitters. Rodriguez is a good defender and beloved by his teammates, but his .157 batting average speaks for itself. Moroff has not shown any ability to hit quality big-league pitching. His .216 batting average during his stint with the Pirates was coupled by an astounding 48.7 percent strikeout rate and a 2.6 percent walk rate.
Luckily, the Pirates farm system has two outstanding prospects at shortstop. Kevin Newman could potentially be called up to the main roster this season. The 2015 first round pick is hitting .310 for the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The twenty-four-year-old rarely strikes out, hits to all fields, steals bases, and has only made two errors this season.
Kevin Newman got himself an early shower this afternoon with our fourth walk-off hit of the season! #RollTribe pic.twitter.com/RBRSnEMgTV
— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) July 30, 2017
Cole Tucker is three years younger than Newman and is definitely more raw. Although Tucker was the 2014 first round pick, he signed with the Pirates out of high school, while Newman had played at the University of Arizona. Tucker’s athleticism is impressive, along with his ability to steal bases.
It will be awhile before we see Tucker, as he still needs to work at the plate. He is only batting .240 with one home run for the Double-A Altoona Curve.
The arrival of Kevin Newman could potentially push Jordy Mercer into a mentor/gatekeeper role, much like the role held by Clint Barmes when Mercer was breaking in. Mercer has widely acknowledged Barmes’ role in helping him adjust to the big leagues, and Mercer’s personality should lead to him mirroring his mentor’s behavior. Until then, Mercer is perfectly serviceable as an everyday shortstop for the Pirates.
*Statistics courtesy of fangraphs.com
The post State of the Pittsburgh Pirates: Shortstop edition appeared first on isportsweb.
