PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – From the day Josh Bell was traded before Christmas, Colin Moran had to know he would be the starting first baseman. Even with the addition of righty-hitting veteran Todd Frazier, also a third baseman who has learned first. Playing time likely will be up to Moran.
The 28-year-old got off to a crazy hot start in 2020, at one point leading the majors with 5 homers in his first 8 games. He would end up doubling that to lead the team. In 2019, most don't realize Moran drove in 80 runs, hitting .277. Offensively, he said the goal was to gain muscle.
Defensively, he's been working this spring on the nuances of first base.
"Trying to go over little things that you don't really think about until you go over there," Moran said. "It's been nice with more time to focus on it."
Often fans will think you just put the slow, older player at first. While this is true in some cases, a good first baseman is invaluable to your defense. Moran said he's learning about the spin of slow rollers on the right side. How to stretch off the base and how to bail.
"Know when to get off the bag for a ball that is going to run pretty good like a two-seam from a shortstop," Moran said. "So you don't get trucked over, like last year."
"You have a lot of time here. You work on a lot of little things. Which is nice."
"Made a really nice play (Sunday) on a ball to his glove side down the line and got up and made a good flip," said manager Derek Shelton. "I know from talking to him there are still things he is working on. I feel very comfortable with him over there."
Moran has played five different positions in the majors, still by far the most at third base (241 games) with only 30 career games at first. He would prefer not to be in the outfield, saying playing left field last year was like being on a different planet.
What's most important to him is not which glove he takes out to the field. It's more about where he is batting.
Moran said he appreciates consistency in the lineup and judging by his career, fifth or sixth are the best spots. The lefty hits .271 fifth in the lineup with 42 RBIs. His career bests are all in the 6-hole. A .292 average, 11 home runs, 45 RBI, .464 slugging percentage.
It's likely with his experience he would start higher in the lineup, in the Grapefruit League opener Moran hit cleanup.
The North Carolina product becomes a free agent in 2024. He likely will be a part of this core at least for the next couple of years.
"We have a good blend of guys here," Moran said. "A lot of guys that are hungry to keep going in their career. We don't have too many guys with experience. We have a good blend of keeping it loose, yet working really hard."
Hard work, and of course success, could make Moran a piece of the Pirates puzzle moving forward.
