Kiner-Falefa bringing energy, leadership to 'special' Bucs club

PITTSBURGH -- Isiah Kiner-Falefa gave his Players' Weekend bat a second chance Saturday. He put it away after punching out his first time up Friday, but he broke out his Hawaiian-themed lumber again and immediately connected on a Luis Castillo sinker on his first swing of the game for his first homer as a Pirate.

Saturday would end up being Kiner-Falefa’s best offensive performance yet with his new team, racking up three hits and scoring two runs to jump start the Pirates to a 7-2 win over the Mariners at PNC Park.

Kiner-Falefa’s spark at the top of the order was needed -- not just to stack a couple wins together and put their 10-game losing streak further in the rearview mirror -- but also because the Pirates placed their leadoff hitter, Andrew McCutchen, on the 10-day injured list before the game. Manager Derek Shelton said postgame that he would expect Kiner-Falefa to get the majority of the at-bats there in McCutchen’s absence, and the utilityman is on board.

“I feel comfortable anywhere, just like my position,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Utility on the field, lineup. Whatever the team needs me to do, I’m comfortable doing.”

Acquired at the Trade Deadline, Kiner-Falefa has looked comfortable doing a whole lot on the diamond. Even before he got to bat Saturday, he made an impact by catching Victor Robles trying to advance on a ground ball to shortstop, delivering a strike to Ke’Bryan Hayes for the unusual 6-5 fielder’s choice. After batting cleanup Friday, he had his first three-hit game as a Pirate. Mix in home runs by Rowdy Tellez and Jared Triolo in addition to RBI knocks from Tellez and Joey Bart, and the offense had its best performances in over a week despite being without McCutchen and Bryan Reynolds.

A lot of that started with Kiner-Falefa.

“[Kiner-Falefa] brings energy every single day,” said Bailey Falter, who tied a career high with eight strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. “He's been another leader in this clubhouse. That is awesome, too. He's playing really hard right now and the guy loves the game."

The first texts Shelton received about Kiner-Falefa after he was acquired told him that, as well as that he was going to love the guy. That, paired with his leadership, knowledge and defensive versatility, made him a target for the Pirates this Trade Deadline.

“I think as a clubhouse guy, I don't know if he could have added a better person to our group,” Shelton said. “Ton of energy. I think he's really good for the young players. He sees a lot of things. He's a smart baseball player.”

Kiner-Falefa added: “It’s been nice to be somewhere where I feel I’m needed and wanted. I’m really excited to help these young guys because I feel like this team is really, really good and has the pieces to have something special here.”

Kiner-Falefa has been quite vocal that he likes this team’s chances moving forward. In his first interview with his new club after the Trade Deadline, he said his focus was shifting from trying to win a batting title in the American League to winning a World Series. On Friday night on 93.7 The Fan, he said, "I see this team being a 100-win team next year."

At this point, it’s probably wise to have at least one eye on the future with this club after their recent 10-game losing streak dropped their playoff odds to one percent, according to FanGraphs. But Kiner-Falefa’s optimism is rooted in knowing that the vast majority of this pitching staff is returning next year in addition to witnessing what happened with the Orioles’ quick turnaround in recent seasons. Kiner-Falefa’s Yankees were able to beat the Orioles in 2022, but they had to sweat it out. Last year, the Orioles took off and won the division.

He saw similar growing pains in that 10-game skid with the Pirates, with the exception being the last loss to the Padres.

“I think the other [losses] felt like we were winning the games and something came up of a little immaturity, a young team learning how to get over that hump,” Kiner-Falefa said. “Those games were good for us to build and use those games to teach us a little something the last couple days. Also, you’re not playing the Padres and Dodgers every game. Those are juggernaut teams and we kept up toe-to-toe. We didn’t get the wins but anybody watching -- we were in those games.

“I just see a bright future with our pitching staff and the young guys we have.”