Hayes' leap, Triolo's turn signposts of strong infield D

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Ke'Bryan Hayes has a knack for making the spectacular look routine.

In the fifth inning of the Pirates’ 1-0 loss to the Yankees at LECOM Park on Sunday, Caleb Durbin lined a ball that seemed destined for left field. But the Pirates’ third baseman leaped and snared it.

For some, it would be the play of their spring. For Hayes, it was another day at the office.

"It was OK,” Hayes said afterward. “Just a line-drive out. Wasn't anything crazy.”

Hayes may have made better catches. That said, that line drive had just a 15 percent catch probability, according to Statcast. It was just another example of why Hayes took home his first National League Gold Glove Award last year and is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the game.

But he wasn’t the only one who flashed the leather Sunday. Also in the fifth inning, Hayes fed second baseman Jared Triolo a potential double play ball, and the team’s presumptive Opening Day second baseman ranged back in position from his shift to complete the play. In the second, first baseman Rowdy Tellez made a play to his left and touched the bag before throwing a strike to Oneil Cruz at shortstop for the double play.

Doing the little things right has been a common theme this spring, and infield defense is near the top of the list.

“We have to catch the ball,” manager Derek Shelton said. “We’re going to have guys who are going to put the ball on the ground, we’re going to have guys that we need to make sure that we turn double plays. The play that Triolo made today is a sign; I know we’ve talked about his growth as a defensive player, but just reactions to be able to get there. Those little things are going to be important.”

There is potential for the Pirates to be a good defensive club. It certainly helps to have Hayes at third. While Triolo is still learning second base, he won a Minor League Gold Glove Award at third and is one of the organization's top fielders. Michael A. Taylor is a Gold Glove Award winner in center and ranked in the 92nd percentile of fielding run value a year ago, and moving Jack Suwinski to left -- where his range can play more -- might maximize his defensive value. There are questions surrounding the 6-foot-7 Cruz at shortstop, and his five errors this spring are tied for the most of any fielder, but he could be surrounded by quality fielders.

Last season, the Pirates ranked 14th in baseball with five outs above average from their infielders. Hayes alone accounted for 17, meaning the rest of the infield was worth minus-12. That number is going to need to improve, and it starts with making the fundamental plays.

"Defense, that's what’s going to win ballgames for us,” Hayes said. “We have a lot of guys on the infield that can make impact plays. ‘Being extraordinary at the ordinary’ is a term I like to use. Making all the routine plays, and then whatever extra plays we can get is a bonus. I think all the good teams, they hardly make errors when it comes to those routine plays."

Bullpen notes
Aroldis Chapman’s velocity was in the low 90s early in his outing Sunday, but it rose to the 96-99 mph range as the fifth inning progressed. Chapman was briefly visited on the mound by the staff, but he completed the inning.

“I think early on, he threw a ton of sliders early, so I think it was just a feel for the slider,” Shelton said. “Then, after he kind of grasped a feel for it, we saw the velocity kick back up to 96 to 99.”

The Pirates aren’t exactly in a position to lose much more bullpen depth. Carmen Mlodzinski is building up after a brief setback with right forearm tightness on March 14. Colin Holderman is also building up after his bout with an illness that ran through the clubhouse. He lost 15 pounds and was admitted to a local hospital, Hannah Mears of SportsNet Pittsburgh reported.

It is very likely Holderman will start the season on the injured list.