Pirates A to Z: Centerpiece of Adam Frazier trade Tucupita Marcano has eyes on 2B job

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Miguel Yajure.

Player: Tucupita Marcano

Positions: Second base, shortstop

Throws: Right

Bats: Left

Age: 22

Height: 6-foot

Weight: 170 pounds

2021 MLB statistics: Marcano batted .182 (8 for 44) with one double and three RBIS in 25 games for the San Diego Padres.

Contract: Marcano is not eligible for arbitration until 2025.

Acquired: From the San Diego Padres, along with outfielder Jack Suwinski and pitcher Michell Miliano, in a trade for Adam Frazier on July 26.

This past season: The centerpiece of the Frazier trade, Marcano was considered a top-10 prospect for the Padres and moved into the Pirates’ rankings at No. 7 by Baseball America and No. 9 by MLB Pipeline.

Even before Marcano made the Padres’ Opening Day roster, he caught Pirates general manager Ben Cherington’s eye while playing for the Low-A Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco, Wash. Cherington was scouting the Northwest League while working for the Toronto Blue Jays, and kept Marcano’s name in mind when the Pirates sent Joe Musgrove to the Padres in January.

Tucupita Marcano is on the board. Here's his first career hit. pic.twitter.com/U1UiyXJAVg

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 7, 2021

“So we were pretty familiar with him coming into this deadline,” Cherington said in late July. “He’s a skilled player, always been really young for his levels. He’s young this year for Triple-A, and he’s performed really well despite being a young player everywhere he’s been. He’s got a good feel to hit, a good decision-maker in the box, controls the strike zone, has always had a good ability to make contact, line-drive approach. He’s grown into a little bit more power this year.

“He’s a versatile defender. We see him with the ability to play shortstop, second, probably move around the entire infield and outfield, if needed. So that versatility is appealing. All the work we’ve done on him suggests that the character and work ethic and the aptitude is strong also.”

Marcano is named after his hometown in Venezuela — which he described as “a small town where you don’t have too many opportunities to develop in sports” — so it’s no wonder that he carries himself as if his city is counting on him to make it to the majors.

“I’m one of those kids who developed, and try to reach that goal and be an example for others,” Marcano said. “I’m so proud and excited to have this name. I want to do my best and try to represent my home in a good way.”

Although Marcano showed he needed more seasoning after his major league debut, he fared well at Triple-A El Paso. Marcano had a .366 on-base percentage and flashed power by hitting seven doubles, two triples, six home runs and 27 RBIs in 45 games while drawing more walks (27) than strikeouts (26).

“I learned a lot,” Marcano said. “The experience on the big league team was very important. I gained confidence.”

Cherington touted Marcano’s baseball smarts, awareness on the field, ability to make contact and strong instincts on the bases.

“We want him to get a chance to play every day,” Cherington said. “He’s already really young for the level, so I think we feel like he’s in a good spot to be challenged developmentally. But really, really happy to have him and encouraged and everything is lined up with what we thought we were getting from our scouting lens.”

One pitch, one swing, one homer.

Tucupita Marcano hits his first @indyindians dinger since being acquired at the Trade Deadline. pic.twitter.com/1nYJ2AduDk

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) August 8, 2021

Marcano, however, batted .230 with four doubles, one triple, one homer and 12 RBIs in 48 games at Indianapolis, striking out 33 times while walking 26. Cherington cited Marcano’s youth — he didn’t turn 22 until mid-September — and inexperience after skipping two levels after the lost 2020 season as factors for his struggles.

While acknowledging that Marcano spending the season at Triple-A was “maybe an aggressive push to that level” and recognizing that hits weren’t falling for him, Cherington focused on his play in the field and on the basepaths (he had 12 steals, including eight at Indianapolis).

“The defense has still been good,” Cherington said. “He does something on the bases often. We often see in our manager’s report after the game, he’s doing something instinctual on the bases to make a difference.”

Oh you thought that was a hit? Tucupita Marcano had other plans. ???? pic.twitter.com/L230Mdz2JO

— Indianapolis Indians (@indyindians) September 5, 2021

The future: Along with Rodolfo Castro, Michael Chavis and Hoy Park, Marcano is among the candidates to fill Frazier’s spot at second base.

“That’s the goal,” Marcano said. “I’m going to work for that.”

Marcano is probably the furthest away, at least physically, so he plans to work on improving his upper-body strength while maintaining his speed.

That his hitting suffered the most goes against scouting reports. MLB Pipeline called his contact skills “the defining characteristic” in Marcano’s skill set, thanks to a short, left-handed stroke that “produces line drives all over the field” and a good eye at the plate.

The Pirates have to decide by Friday whether to add Marcano to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. Given that he was the targeted return for Frazier, that should be a no-brainer.

“Going forward, a lot of it for Tuca is just continued strength development, growing into his body, developing as he gets past his really early 20s,” Cherington said, “getting some of that natural strength and that translating into driving the ball a little bit more, and just being able to stay strong through the length of a season.”