The Pirates don’t have to choose between Nick Gonzales’s bat and his glove. They just have to stop asking him to do the same thing every day.
That’s where Pittsburgh finds itself in 2026, with Gonzales hitting like a middle-of-the-order force and defending third base like a problem the club can’t ignore. The 27-year-old is slashing .311/.369/.404 with a 115 wRC+, production that has him second in the National League in hitting behind only three-time batting champ Luis Arraez. But the numbers at the hot corner have been brutal: minus-14 defensive runs saved, minus-11 outs above average, 10 errors, and a .947 fielding percentage across 98 games and 795 1/3 innings.
The bat has long been the selling point with Gonzales. That was true when he was a 2020 first-round pick and top prospect, and it was true in the minors, where his offense always drew the spotlight while the glove lagged behind despite plenty of work. This season has made that split impossible to miss.
To be fair, the Pirates didn’t exactly put him in the easiest spot. Gonzales has more experience at second base than third, and Pittsburgh didn’t tell him he’d be the primary third baseman until Opening Day. Even so, the current setup is reaching the point where the defense threatens to swallow the value of the offense.
Benching a hitter with that kind of production isn’t the answer. The Pirates need a workaround, and they’ve got one if they’re willing to keep juggling.
The first piece of the puzzle is the designated hitter spot, now that Marcell Ozuna is gone. That opens the door for the Pirates to move a few imperfect defenders through DH, including Bryan Reynolds, Brandon Lowe and Gonzales.
Lowe’s turns at DH create another useful wrinkle: they free Gonzales to slide back to second base. The metrics don’t agree on exactly how well he plays there - 3 OAA and minus-11 DRS over 730 2/3 innings last year - but second is still the more natural fit. That also gives Jared Triolo chances at third, which should help the defense overall.
Even with that rotation, Gonzales will still log plenty of innings at third because the bat is too important to hide. But the Pirates can make the arrangement more manageable by matching the alignment to the matchup and the pitcher on the mound.
When Pittsburgh starts fly ball-heavy arms like Jared Jones and Paul Skenes, it can live with Gonzales at third since he won’t be tested as often. When ground ball-oriented pitchers like Braxton Ashcraft are on the hill, the better move is to shift Gonzales to second or DH.
That flexibility gives the Pirates a real path here. Gonzales can keep hitting, the club can reduce the damage at third, and Pittsburgh can build lineups around the strengths of the players it has. It’s not simple, but it’s workable - and for the Pirates, that may be the best kind of solution.
In Other News...
Pirates Turn To Rookie Arm With Bullpen Under Pressure Against Dodgers
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Curtis has already had a brief taste of the majors, making his debut on July 18 before being optioned back to Indianapolis, but he remains on the 40-man roster and now gets another shot to help out at the big league level. For a Pittsburgh staff trying to keep its relief corps from wearing down, the timing of the move says plenty about how much the Pirates may need from a young pitcher who is still carving out his place. [Read more 🡒]
Endy Rodrguez Puts Pirates Back In A Catcher Situation They Feared
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Rodrguez has already lost significant time this season because of injuries, having also been sidelined by issues with his left glute and right elbow. For a team trying to steady its catching situation, the latest setback only adds to the concern, because the Pirates now need clarity on both the severity of the hip problem and the timeline for his recovery. [Read more 🡒]
Pirates Rotation Problem Is Forcing A Telling Move Vs Dodgers
The Pirates are trying to patch together another start as they head into the series finale against the Dodgers on Aug. 23, turning to right-hander Lake Bachar to open the game with Carmen Mlodzinski lined up behind him in a bulk relief role. It is the kind of arrangement that says as much about the rotations current shape as it does about the opponent, with Pittsburgh choosing flexibility over a traditional starters workload.
Bachar, acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline, has been solid in a small sample with a 3.27 ERA over five outings for Pittsburgh. Mlodzinski, meanwhile, has not found much traction as a starter but has been more effective out of the bullpen this season, which is why the Pirates appear ready to lean on him in a different capacity against one of baseballs toughest lineups. [Read more 🡒]