Pittsburgh Pirates Defensive Whiz Out Multiple Months After Surgery

Bad news for the guy who's being called the second-best defensive player in the entire Pittsburgh Pirates system. Legitimate prospect Jared Triolo will be shut down for four-to-six weeks after undergoing hamate bone surgery last week. 

The 25-year-old was a second-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft and has had a solid run up the ladder in the Bucs' minor league system the past couple of years. In Double-A last season, he hit .282 with a .795 OPS. He was expected to be able to compete for a spot with the big league team at some point this season. 

With outstanding defense at third base, he "regularly takes professional at-bats", per MLB Pipeline, and by concentrating on elevating the ball more, he could tap into some power. 

"There isn’t much separating Triolo and big league highlight-reel regular Ke’Bryan Hayes defensively at third", says Pipeline. In fact, Pirates followers say he's the second-best defensive player behind Hayes in the organization. But nevertheless, as Hayes is locked-in in Pittsburgh, Triolo has started showing some versatility, playing shortstop and outfield as well, with eyes on 2B and 1B too.

Unfortunately, all of that development will have to wait until about mid-season, as his recovery will include a long ramp-up period after he's able to begin baseball activities again in late May.

Photo: Dave Nelson-USA TODAY Sports