Depth at first base allows Pirates to better absorb injury of Ji-Man Choi; JT Brubaker discusses Tommy John surgery

As the calendar flipped months over the course of the 2022 offseason, a series of moves by Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington made one thing clear: upgrading the team’s options at first base, with a particular emphasis on dependable defense, was a major priority.

November and December saw Cherington sign veteran Carlos Santana in free agency while acquiring Ji-Man Choi and Connor Joe through trades with Tampa Bay and Colorado.

In addition to a defensive upgrade from the likes of Michael Chavis and Yoshi Tsutsugo, the two players (out of nine total) that the Pirates used the most at first base last season, Cherington was hopeful the new trio at first base would offer increased offensive production, as well.

Just a few weeks into the 2023 campaign, however, the position group is down a man, with Choi having suffered an Achilles strain that, per Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, will sideline the 31-year-old for two months.

Choi is sporting a boot on his left leg and, for the next few weeks, will only be able to partake in light workouts.

“I’m very upset that I’m not able to be there to help my teammates, but, on the good side, we’re playing very well. So I’m very happy for them,” Choi said through his translator.

At the time of his injury, which first was announced by the Pirates April 14, Choi was hitting .125 (4 of 32) through nine games but had come off games against Houston April 10 and 11 in which he hit home runs.

Thanks to Cherington’s acquisitions of Santana and Joe, the Pirates are better-suited to absorb Choi’s absence, both at the plate and defensively at first.

In terms of offense, Santana and Joe have been impressive, with the former batting .261 (18 of 69) with two home runs and 11 RBI (second to only Bryan Reynolds on the Pirates) through 18 games played.

As for Joe, a right-handed batter, he’s hitting a robust .340 (16 of 47) with five doubles and five RBI.

Joe, who spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with the Rockies, enjoyed a nice series recently in Denver, going 5 of 14 (.357) with two doubles, a triple and an RBI in the Pirates’ three-game sweep of Colorado from April 17-19.

At first base, Santana largely has been dependable, having been charged with one error over 128.2 innings of work so far, with Joe errorless through 30 innings to date.

“First base depth was something that was really important to us coming into the year. We felt like that as a place we needed to improve on over the last couple of years,” manager Derek Shelton said.

“We built it with Ji-Man and Carlos, and the fact that Connor can go over there and has done a good job defensively, and his at-bats have been really consistent – it is reassuring. It’s an important position.”

Notes:

• The Pirates welcomed back a familiar face to PNC Park Thursday as the team prepares for a four-game series with the Reds through the weekend in Kevin Newman, who was traded to Cincinnati last November for reliever Dauri Moreta, after playing in 431 career games in a Pirates uniform from 2018-22, during which time he batted .260 with 20 home runs and 143 RBI. When he was dealt, Newman was the Pirates’ longest-tenured player. The 29-year-old middle infielder is currently hitting .220 with two home runs and seven RBI through 13 games with the Reds. “The first thing I thought of was, wow, just how pretty the city was. It’s beautiful,” Newman said of his return to Pittsburgh. “Coming through the tunnel and seeing it again, it’s been awhile, so it was cool to come back in and see the grandness of the city.”

• Starting pitcher JT Brubaker spoke with local media Thursday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on his throwing (right) elbow, which was announced by the Pirates Wednedsay. Brubaker, 29, was a sixth-round selection of the Pirates during the 2015 MLB Draft. He made his big-league debut in 2020 and, in parts of three seasons with the team, has gone 9-28 with a 4.99 ERA. Brubaker had looked good during Spring Training, recording 26 strikeouts over five Grapefruit League games, but suffered an injury toward the end of spring training, on which he sought a second opinion this week before opting for surgery. Post-Tommy John, Brubaker’s recovery time is estimated at 14-16 months. Brubaker looked to be in good spirits Thursday but acknowledged the difficult road ahead with regards to getting back to action: “I’m gonna have to really grasp and trust that this process is gonna be long and that the arm is healing,” he said.