ATLANTA -- Over the next month, the Pirates will balance their present and future at shortstop -- and see how the two might intersect.
Rookie Kevin Newman, the Pirates' No. 6 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, made his second start at shortstop in the Pirates' 3-2 win over the Braves on Friday night at SunTrust Park. Veteran Jordy Mercer started the last two games after coming off the disabled list, ending a stretch in which Adeiny Hechavarria started 11 of 12 games at shortstop.
When the Pirates designated Sean Rodriguez for assignment on Wednesday, they did so in part to provide Newman with more playing time. They cleared even more of an opportunity for Newman after Friday's game, when they traded Hechavarria to the Yankees.
The Bucs could have retained Rodriguez and optioned Newman to the Minors for 10 days, but manager Clint Hurdle said they "want to get a look at Newman" as they evaluate their options. The former first-rounder has also made four starts at second base since he was called up on Aug. 16.
Mercer will be a free agent at the end of the season. The Pirates could try to re-sign him or take another run at Hechavarria, knowing a veteran might help ease Newman into his first full season in the Majors. But over the next month, they'll get a chance to assess Newman's progress with Mercer as his on-the-job mentor.
Each shortstop brings something different to the table. Mercer is a known quantity with consistent, steady production and the most power; he hit 14 homers in 2017 and has tied his career high 27 doubles this season. Newman, 25, offers upside with a high-average/low-power bat and speed on the bases.
But would the Pirates rely on a rookie shortstop next year? Hurdle has some experience in that regard, so never say never. Troy Tulowitzki made his Major League debut for Hurdle's Rockies in late August 2006 then played 155 games as Colorado made a run to the World Series in '07.
"There comes a point in time when you've got to pull the trigger," Hurdle said. "It happens in today's game probably more than it happened in the past. … You need to do what's best for the people you do have, those [whom] you spent time developing. Sometimes, if you're going to give them that shot, you've got to give them that shot."
Around the horn
• Active rosters expand from 25 to 40 players on Saturday, so the Pirates should make their first round of September callups before Saturday night's game at SunTrust Park. Hurdle said he was still "working through" the specifics with general manager Neal Huntington on Friday, but they will call up one group immediately and another after Triple-A Indianapolis is eliminated from the postseason race.
"Based on where we are, we want to honor the fact that, if they're in the hunt still, [we want to] continue to put them in a position to hunt," Hurdle said. "And if they get to the playoffs, put them in a position where they can compete in the playoffs."
The first wave of callups will likely include catcher Jacob Stallings, another bench bat and an additional reliever or two. The Pirates cleared room on their 40-man roster for additional callups by trading Hechavarria and David Freese late Friday night.