Former Pirates first-rounder Will Craig's career coming to a crossroads as he heads to Triple-A
Will Craig couldn’t help but watch Josh Bell have a career year last season, knowing his path to the major leagues is blocked by an All-Star at first base.
While Bell hit 18 home runs and had 52 RBIs for the Pirates through May, Craig was crushing the ball at Triple-A. He hit 15 homers with 38 RBIs for the Indianapolis Indians.
“Obviously, I was watching what he was doing but not trying to outdo him,” Craig, 25, said. “Sometimes, that goes through your head. But, for the most part, all I could do was go out and do the best I can, driving in runs, hitting home runs. That’s what I’ve been doing, and, especially at my position, that’s what everyone wants. That’s what I want, too.”
When Craig was optioned to Indianapolis in the first round of spring training cuts Monday, it was a sign his career is at a crossroads.
A first-round pick by the Pirates (No. 22 overall) in 2016, the former Wake Forest star has shown power at the plate while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense. But he hasn’t hit with any consistency, as evidenced by his slash line of .249/.326/.435 in 131 games at Triple-A last season.
Craig admitted fatigue was a factor. That is why he lost 25 pounds this offseason, to reduce the stress on his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame so he can finish as strong as he starts.
“I wore down a little earlier than expected,” Craig said. “Usually, you start feeling stuff in the middle of the season. It happened to me a little earlier.”
Craig’s drop-off was alarming, as he went from hitting .282 last May to .218 in June. At Double-A Altoona in 2018, he batted .248 with 20 homers and 102 RBIs. The problem is he whiffs way more than he walks. Craig had 128 strikeouts and 42 walks in 2018, and 146 strikeouts and 44 walks last year.
“The last two years, my numbers went up power-wise and driving in runs,” Craig said. “It does affect the batting average a little bit, but that’s one thing I really tried this offseason, to see why it wasn’t where it needed to be and try to make those changes as to do both the best I can.”
In 15 Grapefruit League games this spring, Craig had a slash line of .182/.296/.409 with two doubles, a home run and three RBIs, along with 10 strikeouts and two walks.
With Bell blocking him at the major-league level, the Pirates tried Craig in the outfield corners last season. It was an attempt to diversity his defense and, quite possibly, a last shot at salvaging Craig’s career.
Craig was drafted as a third baseman, but Ke’Bryan Hayes appears to be the Pirates’ future at that position. And Bell is blocking him at first base. But the Pirates also have Bryan Reynolds and Gregory Polanco starting in the corners. A potential long-term position won’t open for Craig without a trade or an injury to a starter.
Even so, Craig hopes this is the year he makes it to the majors.
“The goal is always to become a complete player,” Craig said. “Do I think this year could be the year? Absolutely. I’m not going to say this isn’t the year. I’m going to say this is the year everything is going to come full cirlce and I’m able to maximize my full potential.”
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Kevin Gorman is a TribLive reporter covering the Pirates. A Baldwin native and Penn State graduate, he joined the Trib in 1999 and has covered high school sports, Pitt football and basketball and was a sports columnist for 10 years. He can be reached at kgorman@triblive.com.
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