March Mashness: Choi, others go deep in victory
Power comes from all over the team
BRADENTON, Fla. — It wasn’t long after the ball had landed over the right-field fence that Ji-Man Choi shot a playful glance into the Rays dugout. It certainly didn’t seem malicious. Choi later joked he “just wanted to know what was on his mind,” talking about Rays manager Kevin Cash.
Choi delivering some sort of salvo about the Rays trading him seems a little aggressive for spring training, but at the same time, it did ironically provide the first taste of what the former Ray can bring during Pittsburgh’s 6-2 victory Friday at LECOM Park.
After a quiet spring results-wise, Choi pounced on a mistake pitch, an 0-2 slider up in the zone from Rays starter Luis Patino, and sent it screaming onto the boardwalk for Choi’s first home run of the Grapefruit League season.
While Choi stared at Cash and members of his staff, in the other dugout, Pirates manager Derek Shelton was plenty pleased with what he saw from Choi.
“He got a slider up and was able to get it,” Shelton said. “Over the past seven days, we’ve seen him start to swing the bat better, more like he has done over the last few years in the big leagues.”
Choi has hits in four of his past five games, going 5 for 13 (.385) with a double, a home run and four RBIs. His two-run shot also wasn’t the only big swing of the day.
Canaan Smith- Njigba, who continues to push for a roster spot, also went deep, further intensifying the mix on the bench and in the outfield. Even Mason Martin, the first baseman everybody wanted to see last season, got into the mix late. He entered the game as a sub and mashed a 417-foot homer that left his bat at 108 mph.
The offensive output backed surprise starter Osvaldo Bido and helped the Pirates (6-12-3) win consecutive games for the first time this spring.
But the bigger storyline here was certainly Choi, who’s in an awkward spot.
Carlos Santana has looked better at first base. Andrew McCutchen, with a sore right elbow, could fit better as the regular designated hitter.
Meanwhile, Choi’s contract technically isn’t guaranteed because he went to arbitration.
(They could still release him prior to opening day while paying 45 days of termination pay.)
On the plus side, there’s power to Choi’s game. He can also be a lot of fun, when he’s hitting. The problem is neither the Pirates nor the fans have seen much of that this spring, after he had offseason elbow surgery, was denied the chance to play in the World Baseball Classic and lost his arbitration hearing.
“He has a good way about him,” Shelton said. “He has a lot of enthusiasm and fun about him, and that’s important for our young players.”
On the mound
It was certainly unexpected to see Bido get the start, but it didn’t take long before he impressed, touching 96 mph with his sinker and four-seamer and showcasing a sharp slider. In two innings, Bido allowed no hits or runs, walked one and struck out four, generating six whiffs among the 27 pitches (17 strikes) that he threw.
Bido could have a tough time cracking a deep Triple -A rotation, but if he pitches like he did against the Rays, there will be a role for him somewhere.
“He was effective. He was in the zone. He went right after people,” Shelton said.
Another strong performance was delivered by Dauri Moreta, who’s looking more and more like an opening day bullpen candidate. Moreta’s slider and changeup have both been impressive, while he’s worked 5⅔ scoreless innings this spring, walking one and striking out eight.
At the plate
After the Choi homer, the Pirates doubled their lead by taking advantage of some Rays mistakes in the second inning. Tyler Heineman (hit by pitch) and Chris Owings (walk) were aboard when Ji Hwan Bae turned on an 0-1 changeup, driving it into the right-center gap.
The bases got a little clogged, otherwise Bae would’ve easily had a triple, but they got a run when Heineman slid home safely. Jack Suwinski’s sacrifice fly made it a 4-0 game.
Smith- Njigba, 5 for 14 with four RBIs in his past six games, flew out to deep left in the first inning then drove the ball even further for a solo home run in the third inning.
It was the second homer of the spring ... OK, probably his third, if not for the outfielder passing a runner in a game against the Orioles. Terrific handling of the bat, too. Smith-Njigba was in a 12 hole and drove a high fastball the other way with authority.
“That’s what people want to see — for me to put the ball in the air and over the fence,” Smith-Njigba said. “I’m glad that I’m showcasing that, putting good at-bats together and hitting the ball hard.”
Quotable
“Right now, my main focus is not getting a hit or not. I’m focusing rather on my balance and also the speed off the bat.” — Choi
Up next
Mitch Keller will start Saturday against the Twins at LECOM Park, while Vince Velasquez will get the ball against the Orioles — his third start this spring at Ed Smith Stadium.