NEW YORK — Jose Bautista had just concluded his breakout 2010 season — 54 home runs, 100 walks, the first of six consecutive All-Star appearances at age 29 — when manager Clint Hurdle made his way to Pittsburgh and needed a place to stay. Bautista hadn’t played for the Pirates since 2008, but he still had a home there.
“My first place that I laid my head down in Pittsburgh for about three months, I rented his furnished house in Shaler,” Hurdle said. “He was my landlord.”
Now 37, Bautista is in the final act of his career. His agent called every team, including the Pirates, this offseason, checking for interest. After a stint with the Atlanta Braves did not work out, Bautista joined the Mets, which so far has paid off. He led off for them against the Pirates Tuesday, and had a .460 on-base percentage and .484 slugging percentage through 31 games.
“What it speaks to me is a man that wanted to play, felt he could play, and was going to do what it took necessary to put himself in a position to play,” Hurdle said. “The bat’s still dangerous. The barrel still plays. The skill set is still very competitive.”
Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.
First Published: June 26, 2018, 10:15 p.m.
