Colin Moran learned early this season that the most important number in his phone belongs to the Wilson representative. Moran needs almost as many different gloves as there are positions on the field.
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ utility man is scheduled to start at second base Sunday against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park while Adam Frazier, who hasn’t played since Wednesday, deals with back spasms.
Moran, who played 116 games at third base last season, has played eight at third, two at first and one in left field this season.
He said he hasn’t played second base since his freshman year of high school, but he often is positioned there when the team puts on a defensive shift.
When manager Clint Hurdle approached him about playing second base, the conversation was simple.
“He said, `Do you have a second base glove?’ Then, (he said), `take some grounders,’ ” Moran said. “I have a glove for everything now.”
Except a catcher’s mitt. “Not yet,” he said.
He started to stock up on gloves a few weeks ago.
“I figured if anybody goes down it can get me in the lineup, just trying to be prepared for anything,” he said. “They tell me to try something out, I do it.
“The rep from Wilson has been really quick about getting me some gloves.”
Meanwhile, his offensive hasn’t suffered. Moran is hitting . 300, with two home runs and nine RBI. As a pinch-hitter, he’s 2 for 5, with a home run and two walks. Since 2018, he’s tied for the second-most pinch hits in the majors (13).
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