Even on days when the Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t making much contact, Edward Olivares continues to collect hits.
The 28-year-old outfielder, acquired from the Kansas City Royals in December, had his third consecutive two-hit game for the Pirates by going 2 for 4 in Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Batting cleanup, Olivares got the Pirates’ first hit when he singled off lefty Ranger Suarez in the fourth inning. He reached second base on a balk but was stranded when Suarez struck out Andrew McCutchen and Michael A. Taylor. Olivares singled again to start the ninth, scoring from second on Jared Triolo’s single to end the Phillies’ shutout bid.
“He’s been swinging the bat well,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Olivares on the SportsNet Pittsburgh postgame show. “He’s been getting opportunities. … He just continues to hit the ball on the barrel.”
Shelton noted that Olivares was coming off a two-home run game Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers where he also had a potential extra-base hit to the left-center gap robbed by center fielder Matt Vierling. Olivares also went 2 for 4 with the winning RBI in Sunday’s 3-2 comeback win over the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park.
“It is special for sure,” Olivares said Tuesday through translator Stephen Morales. “Any time I get a chance to go out there and perform, I’m just gonna try and do my best and (this) was one of those days.”
Stacked, allowing time to happen, and getting to a better launch position. So many good things click for Olivares early on this season. pic.twitter.com/y43tEKTeSN
— Michael McKenry (@theFortMcKenry) April 11, 2024
Olivares is batting .344 (11 for 32) with a 1.038 OPS and leads the team with three homers while playing in nine games. SportsNet Pittsburgh analyst Michael McKenry noticed how the change in Olivares’ batting stance, where he holds the bat upright and has a more athletic approach, is paying off with solid early returns for the Pirates.
“Just the work that I put in during spring training to put myself in a better spot, my timing right now is good and I’m seeing the ball really good,” Olivares said. “Just proud of how hard I’ve worked.”
Olivares showed he still has some work to do in the field, however, as a he committed a costly error in the seventh inning against the Phillies on a fly ball to right-center by Nick Castellanos. With Taylor sprinting in full pursuit, Olivares nearly collided with the center fielder and the ball bounced off his glove. Castellanos was safe at second and the next batter, Bryson Stott, hit a two-run homer for a five-run lead.
Shelton admitted there has been miscommunication in the outfield as Taylor didn’t sign until March 16 and missed most of spring training. But Taylor, who won an AL Gold Glove with the Kansas City Royals in 2021, is regarded as one of the game’s best defensive center fielders and has first right to any fly ball in the outfield.
“The field general in the outfield is Michael A. Taylor,” McKenry said on the SportsNet Pittsburgh postgame show. “He’s trying to yell and scream, but in Philadelphia, you just can’t hear. A lot of those places you just can’t hear anything. You see Olivares and he’s got his glove up and he’s leaning this way, trying to move away all at the same time. These guys have to understand what capabilities they have, where they play and how far can Michael A. Taylor go. Knowing he’s a Gold Glover, Olivares has to be able to back up at the last second.”
Olivares, however, has proven his value to the Pirates with his bat and will remain in the rotation in right field, especially while he’s putting up a 1.218 OPS against left-handed pitching.
“Playing or not playing I always prepare myself,” Olivares said. “Whether it’s gonna happen that day or the next day, I’ll be ready all the time.”
