Suwinski searches for consistency, finding a new place in Pirates’ lineup

BRADENTON, Fla. — After answering the best season of his career with the worst, Jack Suwinski lost not only his spot in the starting lineup for the Pittsburgh Pirates but any guarantees on the major league roster.

That was humbling for the 26-year-old outfielder, who led the Pirates with 26 home runs and a .793 OPS in 2023 then batted .182 in 88 games last season before being demoted to the minors. The Pirates have since traded for Bryan De La Cruz, who was non-tendered in the offseason, and signed veteran Tommy Pham to a one-year, $4 million contract.

“Obviously, last year was tough, going up and down and success and failure,” Suwinski said. “No matter what happens, you learn a little bit about yourself. Each season has something new for you. I’m just going out and playing hard all the time. You can’t really predict how things are going to go.”

No one would have predicted that, after his struggles, Suwinski would be hitting a team-best .571 while batting leadoff through the first week of spring training games. Suwinski has gone 2 for 3 in back-to-back games, including a solo home run against Atlanta on Wednesday and a double, three RBIs and two stolen bases against Minnesota on Thursday.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound left-handed slugger knows he’s not the traditional leadoff type, and he’s not letting his early success go to his head. But he believes it’s a result of figuring out what he does best, “buying in on that and a lot of trust, man, a lot of trust.”

“The quality of the swing means more to me than the results itself just because, I mean, that ball can be hit hard and someone can catch it or it could easily be an 0-fer day,” Suwinski said. “The good feelings and the quality at-bats are a little more sustainable and just not looking at numbers and stuff like that. It’s not even March yet, so…” Suwinski knows it’s too early to start celebrating. And he can’t erase the memory of 0-for-29 stretches in each of the past two seasons. His batting average dipped last season from .176 in April to .153 in June, so Suwinski is searching for the one thing that has eluded him: Consistency.

“I think that’s the big thing with Jack,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “We’ve seen stretches where it’s been really good, and we’ve seen stretches where he’s struggled. We just have to find consistency.

“The two things that have been consistent within those struggles is No. 1, he’s just gotten passive; and then because he’s gotten passive he’s put himself behind in counts.”

Suwinski did just that in his first at-bat against the Twins, taking two called strikes to get into a 1-2 count. He fouled off a fastball, then took a changeup for a ball to even the count before striking out on a foul tip.

That six-pitch at-bat led to success his second time up. Suwinski fouled off four pitches in working a full count, then smacked a single to right field to drive in Enmanuel Valdez and Nick Solak for a 3-0 lead. In the fourth inning, Suwinski smoked a line-drive double to center to score Solak for a 4-1 lead.

One thing that helped Suwinski was reviewing his successes. He’s the fastest in franchise history to hit 40 home runs. He hit three home runs in one game, including a walk-off shot, on Father’s Day in June 2022. He broke up a no-hit bid by Corbin Burnes. It helped Suwinski visualize a return to his 2023 form.

“Obviously, I would love that,” Suwinski said. “Trusting myself that I’ve got that in me and I’ve done it before. Not that it guarantees anything in the future. Just take that with a chip on my shoulder and know that I can go out there and do it.”

Shelton is quick to note that Suwinski’s history — 26 homers and 74 RBIs in a season before the age of 25 — is why the Pirates aren’t giving up on Suwinski.

“Those numbers, in and of themselves, you don’t see guys do,” Shelton said. “You don’t see a lot of guys that hit 26 homers in a season. That’s where the consistency comes into play. But, also, we know it’s in there.”

Shelton also mentioned Suwinski making a sliding catch in foul territory, a positive defensive play for an outfielder who had negative metrics last season. Shelton stressed the need for Suwinski to bring it all together.

So, the Pirates took it as a strong sign that Suwinski approached bench coach Don Kelly at PiratesFest about getting some practice at first base.

Shelton said there’s a chance he could see time there this spring. If Suwinski proves he can play all three outfield positions and slide over to first base when needed, especially while Spencer Horwitz is recovering from wrist surgery, it could help him make the Opening Day roster.

Suwinski took grounders and did bag work on a back field at Pirate City, and is looking forward to playing there in a Grapefruit League game.

“It’s different, seeing the ball in the dirt is pretty quick after so many years in the outfield,” said Suwinski, who hadn’t played first base since his junior year of high school. “It felt good just to be loose and let it unfold naturally, especially with some of the guys we have are good leaders so I’m able to learn from them.

“I think it’s just a little getover-there kind of thing for right now. I brought it up a little bit just because I know so many guys are playing multiple positions now. Just to be able to have that and at least work at it, to be a guy that can work over there, I think that can add value. It doesn’t hurt, that’s for sure.”