Pirates' Colin Moran accepts new role, willing to embrace versatility

For the most part, in his first everyday major league action last season, Colin Moran proved he belonged as an MLB regular.

Moran wasn’t a star by any means during his first full season at the highest level, but his .277/.340/.407 slash line with 11 home runs in 144 Pittsburgh Pirates games seemingly showed he was worthy of starting in the majors.

Circumstance intervened, though, and Moran entered 2019 on the Pirates’ bench. A one-time top Houston Astros prospect who was part of the return in the Gerrit Cole trade, Moran lost his starting third baseman’s gig to Jung Ho Kang.

But when it was time for manager Clint Hurdle to make his lineup for Monday’s home opener, there Moran was at third.

Though that mostly was because of matchups (a righty starter, Adam Wainwright, against whom Kang has struggled), it proved a good decision because Moran was on base four times and had three RBIs in an 11-inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

“What a fantastic day at the plate,” Hurdle said of Moran, who had a solo homer, a two-run double and two walks in five appearances. “Really good game at the plate for ‘Mo.’

“We’ve got confidence in him. He did some good things for us last year, and we are going to need all 25 guys to contribute to have the kind of year we believe we can have.”

Moran showed the ways he can contribute in that 11-inning sample size Monday, giving five good at-bats (Hurdle was impressed with his 10th-inning flyout against flamethrower Jordan Hicks) and playing two positions. Though he had a fielding error, Moran played 7 2/3 innings at third base and 3 1/3 innings at first.

It was Moran’s Pirates debut at first base, though he played 10 innings over four games there for the Astros in 2017. He also appeared in 27 games at first base over a five-year minor league career.

“I prepare at all the positions,” Moran said, “(because) you never know, especially in the National League, how the game is going to unfold. So just trying to prepare the best that I can to help them out.”

It was another example of Moran’s shifting role. Whereas last season he reasonably could expect to be in the lineup — especially against right-handed pitchers — and at third base, now he understands it will happen less frequently.

“I try not to think too much into it,” said Moran, who has homered in both of his Pirates home openers. “It’s definitely a different thing, but I try to keep it simple. I think that’s the only way I can act, and that’s my chance at having success: come to the (ballpark) and see what I’m doing today and prepare for it. Just trying to live day by day.”

A former No. 6 overall draft pick who was ranked as one of the game’s top 60 prospects as recently as 2016, Moran probably didn’t often think too much about bench duty. His unassuming, quiet and selfless personality won’t let on if he feels slighted by it.

As a former Astros prospect himself who also was part of the Cole trade, Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove has a history with Moran that extends farther back than most — so he will say it for him.

“I’m sure Colin would love to be starting. I don’t think anyone likes to lose their position,” Musgrove said. “But he’s not a selfish guy. He does a really good job preparing every day, and even though he’s not starting, he comes in every day and gets his work in as if he was starting and he’s ready to play.

“You saw it (Monday): He got in the start, and he made the most of it. He’s always going to be prepared for any opportunity that presents itself, and I think he’ll be really good for us off the bench (on days) he’s not starting.”

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