The Pittsburgh Pirates missed out on Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto, a corner infielder they were heavily pursuing. While the Pirates could still add a true slugger, like Eugenio Suarez or Yoan Moncada, Jared Triolo starting the year at third base for the Pirates is not out of the question. If that happens to be the case, can the Pirates reliably ask Triolo to take up the hot corner in 2026?
While Triolo took a big step forward in terms of offense from 2024 in 2025, he was still a below average bat, slashing .227/.311/.356 with a .296 wOBA, and 86 wRC+ and OPS+. However, there were definitely a handful of positives from his season. He cut his whiff rate down from 27.4% in ‘24 to 24% in ‘25, which is the difference between the 34th percentile and the 52nd percentile. That helped his strikeout rate fall from 26.5% to only 20.2%. Triolo also walked at an above-average 10.4% rate.
Many may scoff at the idea of Triolo at third base given his lack of hitting, but there’s certainly some upside in his bat, even if it isn’t his strongest suit. He upped his xwOBA from .292 in 2024 to .311 in 2025, showing that there is more in the tank. Triolo hit well down the stretch, with a .775 OPS, .340 wOBA, and 117 wRC+ from the start of August onward, which consisted of 216 plate appearances. He also showed much more raw power, going from an 88.4 MPH exit velocity and .336 xSLG% in 2024, to an 89 MPH exit velocity and .378 xSLG% in 2025.
The big attraction for Triolo is his defense. He has seen playing time at all four infield positions, logging the most time at third base. In 1096.2 innings, Triolo has 13 defensive runs saved and 8 outs above average. Last year, he spent more time at shortstop than at third base, where he was about average with -2 DRS and +1 OAA.
But Triolo flew under the radar in terms of wins above replacement, or WAR. In just 107 games and 376 plate appearances, FanGraphs’ variation of WAR valued him at 1.5 wins. Meanwhile, Baseball Reference’s calculation was even more bullish, pinning him at 2.3 wins above replacement level. WAR is far from perfect, but 2 wins is considered average. The difference between 1.5, 2.3, and average value is next to negligible, so it’s safe to say that Triolo provided average value, while having less than 400 trips to the dish.
So can the Pirates rely on Triolo as their primary third baseman in 2026? Let’s first start with why he could. He improved his ability to make contact, and kept up a strong walk rate. On top of that, he showed off more power. Usually, more power, more contact, and good plate discipline are three basic ingredients for success. It’s also worth mentioning that despite being 14% worse than league average by way of OPS+ and wRC+, he was still worth about 2 wins. Over the course of 500 plate appearances, that’s a 2-3 win player, assuming he puts up a wRC+ and OPS+ at 86. A 90-95 wRC+/OPS+ isn’t out of the question, given his respectable xwOBA.
The downside is that he still has a low-ceiling. A 90-95 wRC+/OPS+ is playable, especially given his defense, and well within reach of Triolo, but the Pirates would still be running out slightly below average bat. While it may be an improvement from 2025, the Pirates still averaged just 3.6 runs per game. For reference, the team averaged 4.2 runs per game during the Deadball Era. Most of Triolo’s value is still derived from his glove. Is ‘good enough’ at the plate acceptable?
Ultimately, if the Pirates roll out Jared Triolo at third base in 2026, they’re getting 2-2.5 WAR, mostly via defense. If he can maintain a 90-100 wRC+, he’ll be a perfectly reliable, glove-first third baseman. Given that he showed some improvements in key areas in 2025, it’s very possible he can do that. The Pirates would be betting on his upside heading into 2026 if they don’t sign another third baseman.
