Liover Peguero wants to prove to Pirates that his glove can be as good as the power in his bat

Liover Peguero started last season at Double-A Altoona and finished it in the major leagues, a humbling experience for a middle infielder who was one of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ top prospects.

Peguero is being careful not to allow his opportunity to open this season as the starting second baseman to go to his head, so he wouldn’t even discuss the possibility of playing alongside Oneil Cruz.

“I’m not really thinking about it,” Peguero said. “If it happens, great. All I’m trying to do right now is put my hard work in and put myself in position to get better every day and show the team that I am ready.”

That’s the type of growth that stands out to Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who values the combination of positional flexibility and power potential that Peguero brings to the second base competition.

The 23-year-old Peguero showed how his bat can impact a game with a winning, two-run homer in the eighth inning of Tuesday’s 6-5 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. He went 2 for 2 with a run scored against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, raising his average to .429 (6 for 14) in Grapefruit League play.

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— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 5, 2024

Peguero has some thunder in his bat, evidenced by his 20 home runs across three levels last season, including seven in 59 games in the majors. Peguero has said he believes he is capable of hitting 30 homers. He’s batting .333/.429/.667 with a double, a homer and three RBIs this spring.

“The ball comes off his bat different, and I think, as he’s starting to mature into his body, we’re seeing that,” Shelton said. “He hit a couple home runs last year where he was off balanced and was able to stay through the zone, and that’s really important.”

Liover Peguero hustles to turn a blooper single into a leadoff double

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— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) March 3, 2024

As important is Peguero’s play in the field. His defense was shaky in 2022, as he committed 31 errors at Altoona, with 23 coming at shortstop and eight at second base. That prompted the Pirates to leave him at Double-A to start the season, and he had nine errors in 46 games at shortstop and four errors in 24 games at second base.

Peguero said he learned not to dwell on the negatives but was inspired to find a balance between his offensive and defensive game. So he spent the offseason working on his range of motion and arm action, throwing from different angles to first and second base and practicing turning double plays from both sides of the bag.

Liover Peguero turns a double play all by himself pic.twitter.com/vQK2IWGVFL

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) March 1, 2024

Shelton stressed the importance of Peguero’s versatility, given the need for someone to back up Cruz at shortstop. Peguero started 33 games at shortstop and 23 at second base for the Pirates last season and has shown the ability to make a seamless switch during a game.

“It gave me more understanding on how can I be aggressive on different sides of the field,” Peguero said. “I’m really glad about the opportunity I got last year. The goals are similar this year. I’m trying to stay in the lineup and help the team.”

Peguero made a spectacular diving stop at second base in the fourth inning of the Pirates’ Grapefruit League home opener against Baltimore on Feb. 25. Shelton called it a “great play” but was most pleased with how Peguero reacted with pure joy by pumping his fists.

“The thing that excited me the most was not only that he made the play but his reaction after the play,” Shelton said. “That shows like, ‘All right, it’s Game 2 of spring training, and it’s the fourth inning’ and the excitement. These guys know there’s a competition at that position, so to see him show that kind of enthusiasm made me smile.”

Peguero’s enthusiasm can be contagious, whether it’s on the field or in the clubhouse. He’s hoping to show enough growth in both areas, to the point that it leads him to a spot in the starting lineup.

“I feel great about the opportunity that I’m getting right now,” Peguero said. “I’m trying to take advantage of it. I’m trying to stay in the moment, enjoy what I’m doing and go do my thing.”