Osuna drawing notice at plate
minor leagues and was granted in part to protect him from minor league free agency.
Osuna’s defense needs work, as he will readily admit. Playing right field Monday, Osuna took a poor route to a fly ball and let it drop. Tuesday, in left, he lost a shallow pop fly in the sun.
“He’s going to defend the way he defends,” Hurdle said. “His best position is first, there’s no doubt. Can he go to third? Yes. Outfield? The range is the range. It is what it is. What he gets to, he’s going to handle. In the box, though, I believe he’s going to be an impactful player.”
Osuna has hit at almost every level. Last year, between Class AA Altoona and Class AAA Indianapolis, he hit .279/.331/.457 with 13 homers. He hit .291 with seven of those homers in his first experience at the Class AAA level. After raising his OBP to .361 with a .279 average in 222 winter ball at-bats, Osuna continued to hit this spring.
“Adjustments and confidence,” he said. “I think the confidence is the most important thing. You have to have that confidence to play baseball.”
Tuesday, he went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk, and he now has eight walks and just five strikeouts this spring.
“It’s not just a spring training swing where you see guys just get hot,” shortstop Jordy Mercer said. “You can tell it’s a pretty legit swing. He’s just going about his business the right way, too. He’s acting like he’s a pro. It’s kind of refreshing to see, really. It’s pretty cool to see a young kid like that step in right away and just handle the zone.”
As long as Kang remains without a visa, two bench spots remain unsettled. Among the contenders in addition to Osuna: Alen Hanson, a utility player out of minor league options; Phil Gosselin, whom the Pirates traded for and who can play second, third and short; and Gift Ngoepe, a talented defensive shortstop.
“I think I have a chance,” Osuna said. “If I don’t make it, I have to go to Triple-A, work hard and wait for the opportunity.”