Jared Triolo

Despite being selected in the third round of the 2019 draft, Triolo never carried much prospect pedigree or hype. That's because Triolo's carrying tool is his defense, as he's played every position along the infield since joining the organization. That set him up well to take advantage of openings along the team's infield in a utility role, and he did just that to close 2023 by playing 35 games at second base, 13 at second base, seven at first base and one at DH in his first sample in the majors. That versatility could also mean he maintains a role in 2024, but the question then becomes whether that will make him fantasy relevant. Across any significant sample in the minors, Triolo never posted an ISO above .176 and that mark was just .099 in 209 plate appearances with Pittsburgh. That lack of power will put a lot of pressure on his hit and speed tools. Triolo regularly hit above .280 in the minors, and it appears that success carried over after his promotion. However, his strikeout rate spiked to 30.1 percent and he relied on a .440 BABIP to hit .298 with the Pirates. That's a concerning sign for his batting average potential, but if he can secure an everyday role and get on base (11.5 BB% in majors), Triolo should be a source of stolen bases. He had consistent success in that regard in the minors and then stole six of seven bags successfully upon reaching the majors. That was backed by a 77th percentile sprint speed, leaving stolen bases as his primary path to fantasy relevance.

Triolo was a third-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, though he's never been a particularly highly-regarded prospect. His defense was his standout tool, and he's stuck at both third base and shortstop while progressing through the Pirates system. While his bat lags behind his fielding, Triolo has had a wRC+ at least 10 percent above-league average at every level he's played, most recently posting a 121 wRC+ at Double-A Altoona in 2022. That does require the context that Triolo played three seasons in college and will first reach Triple-A at the age of 25. That said, the clock is ticking for him to reach the major leagues, particularly given the strength of the Pirates' infield prospects that are equally close to the majors such as Liover Peguero and Nick Gonzales.