{"id":93975,"date":"2025-01-16T19:27:07","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T00:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=93975"},"modified":"2025-01-16T19:27:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T00:27:07","slug":"pirates-shortstop-position-unsettled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2025\/01\/16\/pirates-shortstop-position-unsettled\/","title":{"rendered":"Pirates Enter Spring Training with No Clear Answer at Shortstop"},"content":{"rendered":"

Although spring training is near, the Pittsburgh Pirates remain unsettled at several positions, including shortstop. Who\u2019s at shortstop may depend on how the second base competition<\/a> shakes out. One thing is certain. The shortstop won\u2019t be Oneil Cruz<\/a>, who\u2019s moving<\/a> permanently to center field. He likes it there. The Pirates brain trust likes him away from shortstop, where he hurt the team with errors and bad plays.<\/p>\n

Shortstop is Unsettled for the Pirates Going Into 2025<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The (Sort of) Incumbent<\/h3>\n

Versatile Isiah Kiner-Falefa<\/a> was an \u201cirregular regular\u201d for the Pirates after they acquired<\/a> him from the Toronto Blue Jays at last year\u2019s trade deadline<\/a>. He was in the lineup almost every day while bouncing all over the infield. When Cruz vacated the shortstop position on August 28, Kiner-Falefa saw most of the action there. It\u2019s unknown whether that meant the Pirates saw him as the favorite to play shortstop in 2025 or simply because somebody<\/em> had to play there.<\/p>\n

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Welcome to Pittsburgh, IKF!<\/p>\n

(via @Pirates<\/a>)
\npic.twitter.com\/yGN2qN9wzq<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 4, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n