Position: 3B
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 212 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 02/08/1998
College: University of Houston
How Acquired: Draft 2nd Supp. Round, 72nd Overall, 2019
Bonus: $870,700
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 2
Overview
The Pirates selected Triolo with their competitive balance round pick as a third baseman with solid all-around ability but, according to reports, no outstanding tool. That wasn’t entirely accurate, as he’s proven to be an exceptional defensive player, probably the best in the organization apart from Ke’Bryan Hayes. He was also viewed by scouts as having average speed, but StatCast data since he reached the majors puts him in the 75th percentile. He’s also been a very good base stealer in the minors. Triolo’s bat has been more of a question mark. He has good plate discipline, usually makes contact and works the count well. His power is more based on strength than on especially good bat speed, and it hasn’t always shown up.
2019-21
Triolo moved gradually up through the system, spending his first partial year after signing in the now-eliminated New York-Penn League and 2021 at Greensboro, with the pandemic year in between. He put up solid numbers in short season ball, in a year when power numbers NYPL-wide were severely depressed. The numbers at Greensboro were better and weren’t due to the home park there, as he hit much better on the road. He improved steadily throughout the year; his monthly OPS, starting in May, was:
.639
.824
.905
.958
.810
In 2021, Triolo won the minor league gold glove at third. He also played some games at short in both years.
2022-23
At Altoona, Triolo got off to a slow start and hit for almost no power the first couple months. He didn’t hit his first home run until June 12. After that, the power came around and he finished with an above-league-average hitting line. He started 19 games at short and seven in center, and probably could play well anywhere on the field.
After the 2022 season, the Pirates added Triolo to the 40-man roster. He missed the first part of the 2023 season due to hamate surgery. After rehabbing, he joined Indianapolis in mid-May. He hit well there, with gap power and a high walk rate, although his K rate also was much higher than in the past. The Pirates called him up at the end of June and he stayed in the majors except for a three-week period starting in mid-August, when the team incomprehensibly opted for Vinny Capra over Triolo. Triolo played well in the majors from the start, with a .350 OPS through August, above-average defense at first, second and third, and above-average baserunning, including six steals in seven attempts. Triolo was especially strong at third, giving the Pirates a backup for Ke’Bryan Hayes that involves little loss defensively. The one thing lacking was power, as he was slugging only .314 when he went back to AAA. That may have been the lingering effects of the hamate surgery, as well as Triolo just needing to get acclimated, as he had in the past. When he returned in September, he started crushing the ball, putting up a 350/458/567 line that left his season’s OPS at .785, third highest on the team.
2024
Triolo spent the entire 2024 season with the Pirates. He started off as the regular at second, but struggled badly at the plate and moved into a utility role in May. He ultimately played a lot at third due to Hayes’ back problems. Triolo’s hitting continued to be a major problem until August, carrying a sub-replacement fWAR all that time. Through August 24, Triolo had a .567 OPS and struck out in a quarter of his plate appearances. After that, he hit 273/336/404, although his K rate went up. Defensively, the metrics graded him above average at second and third, and slighly below at short.
Stats
Transactions
June 3, 2019: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2nd Supplemental Round, 72nd overall; signed on June 11.
November 15, 2022: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.