Cole Tucker and Wil Crowe are more alike than they appear. Sure, one plays multiple positions and the other is a pitcher. They also come from opposite parts of the country — Arizona and Tennessee, respectively — and have traveled different paths, with Tucker jumping right to the pros out of high school and Crowe going the college route while playing at South Carolina.
But the two 27-year-olds are in a similar situation with the Pirates: Both began Friday’s game needing to show management something positive heading into the offseason.
Continuing his most productive stretch as a big leaguer, Tucker hit a grand slam and made a pair of terrific catches at second base, one that was simply spectacular. Crowe, meanwhile, tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out a career-high-tying nine.
By the end of the night — one of the more enjoyable ones at PNC Park this season — Tucker and Crowe showed what they’re capable of doing and continued to give the organization’s decision-makers something to think about heading into the offseason.
“Cole is one of the best teammates we have in there. I love him to death,” Crowe said. “To see him have the game that he did, have a couple of plays in the field and hit the grand slam to top it all off, it was awesome to watch.”
It wasn’t just a one-time thing, either. By going 2 for 5 with a triple and that grand slam, Tucker is now hitting .298 (14 for 47) over his past 14 games (12 starts), with a double, two triples and two home runs. Tucker has eight RBIs in those games, has scored nine runs and has shown plenty of pop.
That’s important because power has lacked from Tucker’s swing, the result of him not having a strong enough base. Plenty of individual work, even dating back to his skill development time after spring training, seems to finally be bearing fruit.
Tucker also flashed his athleticism and versatility by making those two plays, including his over-the-shoulder grab to rob Reds catcher Tucker Barnhart in the seventh inning.
“I didn't think I was going to get it because I turned around, I was just looking straight up, and I could see the ball back here, kind of like a North Star,” Tucker said. “And it was like, way back here. It just stayed there as long as I kept running, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, I might actually catch it.' I laid out at the last second when I thought I could get to it.”
As the Pirates shift their focus to the offseason and begin/continue evaluating who deserves spots on their 40-man roster, Tucker simply has to get different consideration than he did before this recent stretch.
The sample size is small, but it has also been good enough to bring into focus something that actually links Tucker and Crowe — their status and what they mean to the organization.
Tucker was a first-round draft pick in 2014. Crowe, meanwhile, is one of two players who came back in the Josh Bell trade. Neither of those things are insignificant.
Asked whether Tucker has done enough to change the minds of those making decisions on players this winter, manager Derek Shelton quashed the first part. He also said the Pirates are plenty happy with the changes Tucker has made and the growth he’s shown lately.
“I don't know if there's any changing of minds,” Shelton said. “I think we're happy with the growth, and the changes or adjustments he's made. So as you continue to change and adjust, you put yourself in a really good spot, and he's done that.”
This was a much-needed start from Crowe in that respect as well. It was his team-high 25th, making him the first rookie to lead the Pirates outright in starts since Bill Were in 1949 (29 starts). Josh Fogg (33 starts in 2002), Esteban Loaiza (31 in 1995) and Steve Cooke (32 in 1993) each shared the lead.
Crowe’s 25 starts tie Miami’s Trevor Rogers for the most among National league rookies in 2021, while he should finish fourth in strikeouts (111) among rookie pitchers. At the same time, Crowe began Friday’s game with a 5.77 ERA and had allowed four or more earned runs in a six of those starts.
Crowe has done a fine job of keeping the Pirates in games, which is proven by the fact that the Pirates — a 100-loss team — are basically playing .500 ball (12-13) when he takes the mound. But Crowe also hasn’t been as consistent with his command his execution as he would like.
“That’s something we work on week in and week out,” Crowe said. “I’ve been more frustrated with myself than anything because I know I can be consistent.
“We work on stuff every week to be more consistent and things, but I think the course of the year and how [Friday] went just shows what we’re doing is right. What they’re preaching and what we’re talking about is going to get us to where we want to go, and that’s just the way it happened [Friday].”
The biggest thing that went right for Crowe on Friday was his changeup, which he used to get 10 of his 19 whiffs. Only once did a Cincinnati hitter swing at Crowe’s changeup and connect.
Meanwhile, Crowe at various times this season has shown an excellent slider and fastball velocity that has reached the 95-96 mph range. When he’s throwing strikes and commanding his stuff, he absolutely has the weapons to get people out.
The thing that has dragged Crowe down, more often than not, has been his tempo and having his rhythm disrupted when runners get on base, a common ailment for rookies.
Crowe made that a non-issue Friday by allowing pretty much no one to reach. The only hit he allowed was a second-inning single to the opposing pitcher, Luis Castillo.
Had the Pirates’ sixth inning not been extended — by an appeal and a challenge with Ben Gamel ultimately missing second base — Crowe might have continued. However, Shelton said he thought Crowe was affected by the dropping temperature and decided to play it safe.
“With that good of a start, I couldn't live with myself if something happens to him in the seventh inning after we waited 35 minutes,” said Shelton, who pulled Crowe after 79 pitches.
The interesting part becomes where Crowe fits next season. If he’s able to repeat what he did on Friday, clearly that will warrant a rotation spot, especially with the internal competition he would theoretically face.
When Crowe has struggled, meanwhile, it’s tempting to think about paring down his pitch mix and using him as a long man out of the bullpen.
Those discussions will come with time. For now, though, Crowe did a terrific job of showing what he’s capable of doing.
“This year has been a lot, but it’s been really good,” Crowe said. “It was good to go out on a high note and know the whole year that I belong. I know that my stuff plays, and I know that I can get guys out at a high level in the big leagues.
“It’s been back and forth some here and there, but if I just keep my head down and keep going after it like I have been, the results are going to come.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG.
First Published: October 2, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
Updated: October 2, 2021, 4:48 p.m.