Gonzales In Mix For Pirates Opening Day Lineup

Nick Gonzales’ play during the 2024 MLB season must have him on Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton’s shortlist as the starting second baseman in 2025.

As a sport that lives and dies by the numbers, Gonzales’ production at the plate last season should give him the lead in who starts the season at second base. In the 94 games that he was in Shelton’s lineup, in hitting .270, only Bryan Reynolds topped Gonzales with a.275 batting average.

The competition for the second base job will be intense. Gonzales, 25, will undoubtedly come to spring training camp in Bradenton this coming February with an abundance of confidence. Last season, the Pirates’ top draft pick in 2020 only saw 34 games at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Other than who gets the starting assignment at second base, for now, the rest of the Pirates’ infield seems set. Once the Grapefruit League begins on February 22 for Pittsburgh in Sarasota against the Baltimore Orioles, Ke’Bryan Hayes should be the third baseman. Limited to 96 games with the Pirates last season due to back issues, if Hayes is physically at or near 100% of his past performances, third base is locked up.

With Oneil Cruz switched last season from shortstop to center field and Pittsburgh acquiring Isiah Kiner-Falefa in a mid-season trade with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024, the veteran utilityman is certain to be the team’s 2025 middle infielder.

First base, it’s anyone’s guess who gets locked in here. It’s highly unlikely that Rowdy Tellez returns to the club. With the club finishing in fifth place in the National League Central with a record of 76-86 in 2024, the battle for who starts at second should begin when camp opens at Pirate City.

Shelton and general manager Ben Cherington no doubt want to see the team’s offense greatly improve over their output in 2024. They have fresh memories of Gonzales's hustle on the base paths last season. But when the Pirates begin arriving on Roberto Clemente Memorial Drive in mid-February, there’s going to be a whole lot of energy demonstrated in the batting cages and on the diamonds by those looking to land a spot on the 26-man roster.

Jared Triolo, a 2024 finalist for a Rawlings Gold Glove Award to be announced on Sunday, November 3, could be Gonzales’ stiffest competition at second base. Last season, Triolo filled in admirably for 63 games at third base during Hayes’ absence and appeared in 48 games at second base.

Depending on any moves by Cherington on whether to pursue a free agent to play first base, it wouldn’t be a total surprise to see Triolo at least split duty there with a teammate that is already signed by Pittsburgh.

Alika Williams, the Pirates’ super-sub, will undoubtedly be in the mix for playing time at second base. Limited to 37 games with the Pirates last season, Williams’ playing time was almost evenly split between second base (21 games) and at shortstop (16 games).

The overall theme with whoever is in the lineup for the MLB season opener on March 27 with the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park, the Pirates’ second baseman will be one who can play several infield positions.

The other candidate for second base on display during the 31-game spring schedule is Nick Yorke. Traded for pitcher Quinn Priester last July from the Boston Red Sox, Yorke appeared in 11 games for the Pirates. Like his other teammates looking to land a starting job come March, Yorke auditioned in three positions late in the 2024 season.

Three games in the outfield, one at third base, and seven playing second base, Yorke’s skills appear to be as flexible as a number of those on the Pirates’ 40-man roster.

Injuries, trades, and many options are available as training camp progresses regarding who has the advantage in being the starting second baseman for the 2025 season. However, Gonzales, the seventh overall pick in the 2020 draft out of New Mexico State, really stepped up his game last season. It’s fair to say that he has the lead in getting the nod at second base come the start of the season.