Pirates’ Mercer is no kid anymore in team’s infield
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) 鈥� When Jordy Mercer looks around the Pirates鈥� clubhouse, the term he instinctively goes to in referring to his teammates isn鈥檛 the one he鈥檇 always used.
鈥淭hese kids,鈥� Mercer said while scanning the room early one morning last week at LECOM Park, 鈥渢here鈥檚 some quality kids coming through here right now. It鈥檚 awesome to see that鈥� we have an unbelievable group of kids right now.鈥�
It wasn鈥檛 that long ago that Mercer was 鈥渢he kid鈥� in the Pirates鈥� clubhouse. Now, at 30 and entering his sixth season in the major leagues, the shortstop has become 鈥渢he veteran鈥� among the Pirates infielders.
鈥淗e鈥檚 the leader in the infield, no doubt,鈥� said the Pirates infield instructor and third base coach, Joey Cora. 鈥淗e takes charge. You always want a guy like him in your infield. It helps you a lot.鈥�
For much of this month, Mercer has been serving as 鈥渢he guy鈥� among virtually all of the team鈥檚 position players 鈥� if for no other reason that he鈥檚 something of the last man standing. Five of the eight lineup regulars are taking part in the World Baseball Classic and another 鈥� third baseman Jung Ho Kang 鈥� remains stuck in South Korea because of visa issues relating to his DUI arrest this past winter.
That鈥檚 left Mercer as the lone position player assured of starting who鈥檚 been with the Pirates over about a two-week period this spring.
But even when all proverbial hands are on deck, Mercer has established himself as one of the Pirates鈥� bedrocks. He started 142 of Pittsburgh鈥檚 162 games last season, a career high. Since he first took over as the starting shortstop in 2013, Mercer has already cycled through two each regular second basemen and third basemen and a different primary first baseman in each of the five seasons.
Among the Pirates鈥� regular starting eight and starting rotation, only outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte have had longer tenures with the team than Mercer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 cool that you鈥檝e been in this game long enough to be able to be called somewhat of a veteran,鈥� Mercer said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 not an insult; that鈥檚 a pretty cool accomplishment.鈥�
Including all time spent with the organization since being drafted or signed, Mercer trails only McCutchen, Marte and relievers Jared Hughes and Tony Watson in tenure. A third-round pick out of Oklahoma State in the 2008 draft, Mercer takes pride in being a quiet part of the core that reversed the losing in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates had a 20-year streak of losing season 鈥� a record for any major North American professional sports team 鈥� snapped in 2013. That began a string of three consecutive playoff berths Mercer was a part of.
鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty cool to be a part of that group that kind of turned this whole thing around and basically brought winning back,鈥� Mercer said. 鈥淎nd tradition and the history. Now teams are somewhat scared of playing us instead of cupcaking us like they used to.鈥�
Those days are gone for the Pirates, although they did fall back to 78-83 last season and sat out the postseason when Mercer hit .256 with 11 home runs with career highs in RBIs (59), walks (51) and runs (61).
He also ranked third among National League shortstops in fielding percentage and range factor, and was second in the NL in double plays turned.
鈥淗e does everything under control,鈥� said Cora, who spent 12 seasons in the majors as a middle infielder. 鈥淗e makes all the plays that you need him to make 鈥� and every once in a while he will surprise you with a great play. But the plays that need to be made, he makes them.
鈥淗e鈥檚 steady. He鈥檚 our Steady Eddie.鈥�