Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 12:54AM |  46°
MENU
Advertisement
Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer is hitting .176 with a .231 on-base percentage.
1
MORE

Pirates notebook: Mercer gives way to Kang at shortstop

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Pirates notebook: Mercer gives way to Kang at shortstop

CHICAGO — Pirates manager Clint Hurdle gave Jordy Mercer the weekend off by design, he said Sunday, so Mercer could try to work his way out of his slow offensive start to the season.

Mercer is hitting .176 with a .231 on-base percentage and .204 slugging percentage. Jung Ho Kang started for the fourth consecutive game, and the third time in a row at shortstop.

“We’re going to continue to revisit the best lineup that we can put out there daily,” Hurdle said. “We also know the dynamic of working with Jung Ho, playing time. We'll just see where it takes us.”

Advertisement

Mercer also hit poorly early in 2014. Through 31 games, his current total, in 2014, he was hitting .161/.204/.195. From the beginning of June 2014 on, he hit .278/.333/.433 with 11 home runs.

Cubs catcher Miguel Montero is tagged out on the back end of a double play by Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez in the second inning Sunday at Wrigley Field.
Ron Cook
Ron Cook: Division title appears to be slipping away for Pirates

Kang is hitting .300 with a .367 OBP and .457 slugging percentage. Hurdle felt comfortable enough with Kang’s defense to start him behind A.J. Burnett, whose 56.3 percent groundball rate ranks eighth in Major League Baseball.

“I believe when you look at Jung Ho, the shortstop I'd probably compare him to would be a Jhonny Peralta-type,” Hurdle said. “Jordy has probably more lateral range. They're both very accurate with their arms. Jordy's got more experience within this league for positioning. The only way Jung Ho's going to get it is to continue to get out there and get those reps.”

Not only is Kang up to speed on the hand signals used to initiate defensive shifts, Hurdle said, but first-base coach Nick Leyva, who coordinates the infielders, has Kang’s defensive positioning notes translated into Korean.

Advertisement

Worley will skip start

The Pirates will skip Vance Worley in the rotation in the two-game series against the Minnesota Twins, which is sandwiched between two off days.

Worley was available out of the bullpen Saturday and Sunday after 12 innings and a short start from Jeff Locke Friday worked the bullpen hard.

Francisco Liriano will start Tuesday, on one extra day of rest and in Worley’s scheduled spot. Locke will start Wednesday on regular rest. Worley has not struck out a batter in two consecutive starts, lasted four innings in his most recent start, and has allowed eight runs – six earned – and 17 hits in nine innings during those past two starts.

Pirates starting pitcher A.J. Burnett delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Bill Brink
Pirates break losing streak with 3-0 win against Cubs

The Pirates will have to add Charlie Morton to their rotation soon. Morton, who is making a rehabilitation start Tuesday, could return as early as Sunday, but likely will come back next week in a series against the Miami Marlins.

Interleague play begins

The Pirates begin a two-game interleague series Tuesday against the Twins at PNC Park. The Pirates are 15-8 at home in interleague games since 2013.

Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.

First Published: May 18, 2015, 4:00 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
The two Franks worked with pizza legends Chris Bianco and Chad Robertson to perfect their craft.
1
life
A beloved pizzeria is expanding beyond Brooklyn. First stop, Mt. Lebanon.
Students at Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus in Lemont Furnace, walk to class on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
2
news
Penn State to close some commonwealth campuses, President Bendapudi announces
Penn State president Neeli Bendapudi spoke during a dedication ceremony for the newly renamed Franco Harris Pittsburgh Center at Penn State, located in Uptown on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023.
3
news
Penn State Faculty Senate tables vote of no confidence in President Bendapudi
Ireland Brown is charged with assault, hindering apprehension, tampering with evidence and for the conduct of others in connection with what police have called a seemingly unprovoked attack on 53-year-old Preston Coleman at an Aliquippa VFW on Jan. 5. Investigators alleged that while Ms. Brown did not participate in the assault, she did nothing to intervene for the 30 minutes that it went on.
4
news
Lawsuit filed against Aliquippa VFW where ‘brutal’ assault occurred
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (37) delivers during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Bradenton, Fla.
5
sports
3 takeaways as Pirates suffer 1st loss of spring training to Braves
Pirates shortstop Jordy Mercer is hitting .176 with a .231 on-base percentage.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story