Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jared Triolo has won the 2024 Rawlings Gold Glove Award in the utility category for the National League. Triolo, 26, in his second season in the major leagues, played all four infield positions and made a two-inning cameo appearance in right field in 2024.
B̶i̶g̶ Golden Tri.
Jared Triolo is the winner of the @RawlingsSports Gold Glove Award for National League utility players. pic.twitter.com/b31RiogBEh
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) November 4, 2024
Versatile Pirates Infielder Jared Triolo Wins Gold Glove Award
Triolo broke camp with the Pirates in the spring, having won the starting second baseman position. His defense was stellar, but unfortunately, his offense didn’t live up to his defense. Meanwhile, Nick Gonzales, who seemed an afterthought in the spring, finally showed some life offensively at Triple-A Indianapolis. As the Pirates’ offense sputtered, Gonzales left the Pirates with no choice but to recall him. That happened on May 10, when Triolo was hitting just .208/.294/.250, 1 HR, and 11 RBI.
However, rather than dispatch Triolo to Indianapolis, the Pirates kept him on the big club to take advantage of his glove work and defensive versatility. In that role, Triolo proved to be a valuable asset. When third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes was sidelined with recurring back issues, Triolo became the regular there on August 18. Hayes was a Gold Glove winner at third base in 2023. With Triolo there at his natural position, the Pirates didn’t miss a beat defensively. During that period, Triolo’s bat came alive, hitting a more palatable .250/.331/.383, 4 HR, and 18 RBI, which translated to a 162-game average of 18 HR and 79 RBI. He finished the year at .216/.296/.315, 9 HR, and 46 RBI.
But of course, we’re here to discuss Triolo’s defense. Appearing in 119 games, he handled 380 chances and made just three errors in 2024. That’s a .992 fielding average for those of you who still put stock in that antiquated stat. For those more analytically hip, his seven Defensive Runs Saved ranked third on the team, behind veteran center fielder Michael A. Taylor, a one-time Gold Glove winner himself, and Hayes. Triolo is the only Gold Glove recipient for the Pirates, and perhaps the only recipient of any postseason accolades unless pitcher Paul Skenes wins the NL Rookie of the Year.
The Last Word
Utility men were the unsung heroes of baseball until 1997. That’s when the Philadelphia Phillies recognized their value by giving Rex Hudler a two-year, $2.3 million contract. Shortly after, the 10-man pitching staff went the way of the Nehru jacket, giving way to 12- and 13-man staffs, leaving short benches. Thus, versatility is now more important than ever in baseball. Major League Baseball, a bit slow on the uptake, finally recognized this in 2022, when it began awarding a Gold Glove in the utility category.
Previous NL Gold Glove winners in the utility category were Brendan Donovan of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022 and Ha-Seong Kim of the San Diego Padres in 2023. Triolo was chosen over fellow finalists Donovan and Kiké Hernández of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Photo Credit: © Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
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