Pirates' Tucupita Marcano working to match dependable defense with more consistent offense

If there’s been one common denominator among the Pirates’ corps of rookie players who have seen extended action this season, it’s a collective struggle for consistency at the plate.

The most recognizable struggle, the juxtaposition of Oneil Cruz’s ability to hit for raw power and inability to lay off out-of-the-zone breaking balls, has been well-documented.

Cal Mitchell, Jack Suwinski and Diego Castillo, none of whom owned a batting average north of .204 during their time with the Pirates, are all at Triple-A Indianapolis.

Bligh Madris, whose batting average is .170, remains with the Pirates at the moment.

Another of the team’s rookies, Tucupita Marcano, hasn’t been tearing the cover off the ball, evidenced by a slash line of .212/.269/.318 through 40 games.

However, Pirates manager Derek Shelton arguably has experimented with Marcano the most, judging by how he’s bounced around in the batting order.

Marcano, a key part of the package the Pirates received last season in shipping Adam Frazier to the San Diego Padres, has hit leadoff in 13 games. He’s been in the eight spot nine times, and Shelton had him bat ninth in eight games.

Marcano has, on occasion, batted sixth or seventh, and once in the three and five spots.

“He can be really aggressive, which I like,” Shelton said. “He has a good idea when he’s supposed to swing and when he’s not supposed to swing.

“…We can do some different things with him handling the bat.”

Defensively, Marcano has demonstrated versatility, splitting time between left field (26 games, 191 1/3 innings) and second base (18 games, 119 innings).

At both positions, Marcano has flashed the leather, showing a tendency to make plays in the field.

Nothing to see here, just a flawless basket catch by Tucupita Marcano. pic.twitter.com/sT5jaMBSbk

— AT&T SportsNet™ PIT (@ATTSportsNetPIT) June 11, 2022

“Wherever they put me, whether it’s in the infield, the outfield, I’m here to help the team win,” Marcano said through translator Mike Gonzalez. “That’s how I am, that’s my mindset (and) any little grain of salt that I could bring in to help the team get closer to victory, I’m going to do everything possible to provide that.”

To Shelton’s point, in recent back-to-back games against the Cincinnati Reds, both losses, Marcano hit doubles into right field, the first Aug. 20 while hitting leadoff and the following day from the eight spot.

Marcano wants to be near the top of the lineup any given night.

“I like it primarily because I’m able to see more pitches and also because I’m able to be a part of more opportunities,” Marcano said. “I’m able to have more control over opportunities, whether it’s moving a runner, whether it’s getting on-base — being on the bags, being able to steal.

“Sometimes, when you’re lower in the lineup, you’re stuck with a certain scenario or situation. But, when you’re in the first or second (spot) in the lineup, the field is more open for you to be able to do more. More opportunity for decision-making, scenario-creating — so, for me, I see the value in that.”

Something working in Marcano’s favor has been his ability to advance runners.

His four sacrifices are tied with Colorado’s Charlie Blackmon and Arizona’s Jose Herrera, a fellow rookie, for fourth in the National League.

For comparison, Blackmon has played in 110 games this year, with Herrera appearing in 47.

On Aug. 19, Marcano entered the game in the bottom of the ninth to pinch hit with one out and Madris on first.

On a 1-0 count, Marcano laid down a bunt, advancing Madris to second base.

The Pirates’ next batter, Kevin Newman, doubled, scoring Madris and tying the game at 4-4 before Michael Chavis’ walk-off single won the game.

“If you were printing a textbook on bunting, you could have done it off (that) bunt,” Shelton said after the win. “…The way he squared around, he takes the first pitch that’s two or three inches off the plate (and) was in no rush. He’s very calm, even though he’s 22 years old — (tha’s) what stands out.”

In 25 games with San Diego last year, and 40 with the Pirates in 2022, Marcano has yet to eclipse 200 total at-bats.

While he’s hitting just .205 in his young career, Shelton is interested to see what kind of adjustments Marcano can make with a full season’s worth of plate appearances, as he is with the rest of the Bucs’ young players.

“With any young player, it’s just getting reps and making sure he’s swinging at the pitches he needs to swing at consistently,” Shelton said. “For ‘Tuc,’ that’s where it really comes into play. We’ve got to make sure that he kind of stays in his zone.

“We’ve seen really consistent at-bats, and we’ve seen inconsistent at-bats. That’s something that happens with a young player. We just have to continue on the process with him.”