PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Signing with the Pirates in January and added to the 40-man roster after Ke'Bryan Hayes' injury, utility man Wilmer Difo says he's trying to bring something they haven't had. A winning attitude.
"That championship-type mindset and culture," Difo said. "In Washington, that was the culture. We were united. We were always together. We were always celebrating one another, having each others' back, picking each other up and being a team of unity and harmony. I believe that's one of the biggest keys."
In six years with the Nats, Difo was on teams that won 476 games and a World Championship. Only seven Pirates have been on a winning team in Pittsburgh, one has been in the postseason.
Difo, 29, says he's picked up on a trend with young, inexperienced teams.
"They focus so much on the work-work-work that they forget one of the biggest things is that we are a team," Difo said. "We got to work. We have to function together. I'm trying to show the younger guys the value of being together, of battling for one another, cheering for one another, picking each other up. That's the mental adjustment that I'm trying to bring to this clubhouse and this organization."
"I think it helps," said manager Derek Shelton of having a veteran who's been with winning teams. "When you have the personality that he has, he's always upbeat. It's something that is important."
"As we continue on this journey we are going to have to add guys like that. We have to add guys who have been there and done that because that helps out our young players to realize the ups and downs of a Major League season."
"We are really trying to build a clubhouse that's filled with unity and harmony and constantly celebrating one another," Difo said. "We are celebrating the little things, the big things. We are celebrating everything we can to try to build that culture of winning."
