Pirates elder statesman Jose Osuna out to impress new management team
BRADENTON, Fla. — The player who has spent the most continuous service time in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ organization is a bit of a surprise.
However, Jose Osuna has been around longer than anybody. The Pirates signed him as an amateur international free agent from Venezuela in 2009 as a 16-year-old.
Not surprisingly, spring training is old hat for Osuna. He is as comfortable working out and playing Grapefruit League games at Pirate City and LECOM Park as anyone.
In fact, the corner infielder/outfielder smiled when he thought about how much his life has changed over the last decade-plus.
“It’s really hard that first month, that first year, after you sign and you get separated from your home and family,” Osuna said. “But coming here now to spring training, I share more time with my teammates than with my family. I feel like this is home now, Bradenton and Pittsburgh.”
It took the 27-year-old a long time to make it to the major leagues. He spent eight seasons in the minor leagues before making his debut April 18, 2017.
Osuna has hit .246 with 20 home runs in 622 plate appearances, the equivalent of a full major league season, during his three years with the Pirates. He received his first extended playing time late last season and had a .264 batting average and 10 homers in 95 games.
After left fielder Corey Dickerson was traded and with right fielder Gregory Polanco slow to heal from shoulder surgery, Osuna got a chance to play regularly during the final two months.
While the Pirates were putting the finishing touches on a disastrous 69-93 season in which they finished last in the National League Central, Osuna could take some personal satisfaction about getting consistent at-bats.
“It helped a lot to be able to know I was going to get a chance to play and put it out of my mind that I never knew when the next time I’d be in the lineup would be,” Osuna said. “I was so happy that they finally gave the opportunity to play in almost every game. That really cleared my mind and let me go out and play without thinking about what was going on with the lineup and stuff like that. It was fun.”
Osuna’s chances of regular playing time this season don’t look promising.
Josh Bell is locked in at first base following an All-Star season a year ago. Left fielder Bryan Reynolds and Polanco will man the outfield corners.
Colin Moran is the incumbent third baseman, though he is not a lock to hold the job all season. While utility infielder Erik Gonzalez is looked at by some in the organization as the first option behind Moran at the hot corner, a slimmed-down Osuna could see some playing time at the position.
“I feel like I can play that position if given the opportunity,” said Osuna, who has more experience at first base and in left and right fields.
Despite being the organization’s elder stateman, Osuna must prove himself to a new management team this spring. Ben Cherington replaced Neal Huntington as general manager and Derek Shelton took over as manager for Clint Hurdle in November.
Osuna is looking at the change philosophical. He believes Cherington and Shelton must like his ability or …
“I wouldn’t be here,” Osuna said with a smile. “I’m still doing my thing, trying to be a professional and working hard. That’s what helped me get here and stay here. I’m very proud that I’ve been with the Pittsburgh Pirates for this long.”
John Perrotto is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.
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