Michael Chavis could become part of Pirates' long-term plans

Michael Chavis doesn’t necessarily care if he has made a good impression during his first two months with the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, that should not be mistaken for apathy.

The Pirates acquired the infielder/outfielder from the Boston Red Sox on July 30 in a trade for left-handed relief pitcher Austin Davis.

“I would like to hope so. I didn’t really come in attempting to just try to make a good first impression. I’m kind of just me,” Chavis said.

Being me in Chavis’ case is being a little goofy. The ebullient 26-year-old is a bit of a character, which makes him somewhat of an outlier in today’s buttoned-down world of Major League Baseball.

“What you see is what you get,” Chavis said. “When we talk next year, you’re going to see the same goofy dude with a smiley face hat. Maybe not a smiley face, but maybe something else. I just try to be me. I really enjoy playing baseball and I enjoy the relationships that are established through this grind that we go through, 162 games. I’m really looking forward to those relationships going.’

Chavis has shown some flashes since coming to the Pirates to suggest he could possibly be a long-term piece of their rebuilding puzzle.

His statistics are solid as he has a .323 batting average a home run and three RBIs in nine games, which have been sandwiched around an injured list stint. However, Chavis has some pop in his bat as evidenced by hitting 15 home runs as a rookie with the Red Sox in 2019, and he delivered the game-winning single as a pinch-hitter Wednesday night against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.

Chavis started at third base Thursday night in a 9-0 loss to the Cubs and looked good defensively. However, the hot corner is the domain of rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes.

Second base looks like Chavis’ best path to a starting job in 2022. The Pirates have been holding what has amounted to an open audition at the position since trading All-Star Adam Frazier to the San Diego Padres in July.

“Honestly, I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Chavis said. “I’m more of a be-in-the-moment-type of person, and I found, just from my past, when I try to look towards the future and look too far ahead, I don’t do so well in the moment.

“So, I’m really just trying to finish this year strong. Do what I’m capable of doing, having fun, establishing those relationships for next year. But in regards of what I’m planning for (next) season and everything like that, I haven’t started yet.”

And having fun is a big part of Chavis’ game. The enthusiasm he has about playing baseball is obvious.

“I’m playing baseball, man,” he said. “It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do since I was a kid. I would come home from school, only thing I wanted to do was go hit, go play baseball, go throw, something baseball-oriented. When I couldn’t get someone to go to the field with me, we had a garden in our backyard. I’d go back there. I’d grab a stick, and I’d toss rocks up to myself, pretending I was some big leaguer at the moment.

“It’s just something I’ve always had incredible passion for. Baseball’s a cool game.”