BRADENTON, Fla. — During an otherwise quiet workout at Pirate City last week, before position players were required to report to spring training, Rowdy Tellez reached into his locker and grabbed a shirt that’s plenty familiar to Pirates fans.
It was the Dave Parker one, with “IF YOU HEAR ANY NOISE, IT’S JUST ME AND THE BOYS BOPPIN” in large, white letters on a black T-shirt, which Tellez proceeded to wear for practice. The next day, he rocked another 1970s Pirates special, this time celebrating the “We Are Family” slogan.
“They were one of the greatest teams ever,” Tellez said. “The Cobra kept it light everywhere he went. How can you not understand what the Pirates mean to baseball and what players have come through here?”
Tellez, signed this offseason for $3.2 million to add some power at first base, described himself as a “baseball rat” and said he enjoys learning as much as possible about teams of the past and their significance.
It’s easy to circle the ’79 Pirates, for their closeness, leadership and winning. It’s also tough to compare that group to this one. Although having a player like Tellez around, someone who understands the chemistry experiment that occurs every season inside a clubhouse, should help.
The 28-year-old has a fun personality. He takes his work seriously but not necessarily himself. Tellez will joke and bust chops with teammates and media members alike, a dose of levity that becomes important over a 162-game grind.
It’s also something this young group has sorely lacked. Manager Derek Shelton spent 2017 with Tellez in Toronto and described him as having “an edge to him.”
“I mean that in a really good way,” Shelton said. “That was one of the things that, when we started talking about him this winter, made me feel like he was going to fit in our clubhouse.”
Ryan Borucki has known Tellez for a decade, since they spent time in the Gulf Coast League together. The Blue Jays drafted them in successive years. Tellez was in Borucki’s wedding, and they grew close while rising through the minor league ranks.
What Borucki appreciates most about Tellez is his honesty and “telling it like it is.” The lefty reliever also marvels at the first baseman’s ability to work hard … but also make those around him laugh.
“He’s perfect for this squad because of his honesty,” Borucki said. “He’s not going to sugarcoat anything. He has never changed. That’s something this clubhouse really needs.”
Chase Anderson also played with Tellez in Toronto and called him “a big teddy bear.” In addition to Tellez’s ability to marry work with fun, Anderson considers Tellez an underrated defender and appreciates how he can bring out the best in teammates.
“He’s serious when he needs to be, but he doesn’t take things too seriously,” Anderson said. “When he’s in the clubhouse, he keeps the boys laughing and interacting.”
As much as the Pirates sought out Tellez for his personality and the possibility that he could rediscover his 2022 form — 35 home runs, 89 RBIs, 113 OPS+ — he, too, did some homework.
Tellez was with general manager Ben Cherington and Shelton in Toronto. Andy Haines was his hitting coach with the Brewers. Infield coach Mendy Lopez worked with Tellez in the Dominican Republic.
Hearing more about the Pirates’ plan enticed Tellez to come to Pittsburgh and play the role of a potential power-hitting first baseman and also professional pot-stirrer.
“Shelty does a really good job with being loose but still having some structure,” Tellez said. “I’m here to do a job, but I’m also going to keep it as loose as I can with these guys and help them understand that, in the end, it’s a game. When the game ends, you have to turn it off because we’re going to have another one the next day. It’s a grind. You need to separate things.”
This offseason, Tellez also sought out another Pirates legend in Andrew McCutchen, asking for more intel on what this group had and how Tellez might be able to help. Tellez said he also likes to mess with McCutchen and tell him that the 37-year-old was his favorite player as a kid.
McCutchen laughed. But he also understands what Tellez was brought here to do: to help bridge the gap between older and younger players and ensure everyone gets along.
Willie Stargell or Parker? Too aggressive at this point, but Tellez can certainly help.
“This team is capable of playing well,” Tellez said. “Having some older guys here who have been through the grind will help bring the team together, especially with Cutch.
“The previous success of this team and hopefully being able to bring it back, that’s very special to me.”
Jason Mackey: jmackey@post-gazette.com and Twitter @JMackeyPG
First Published: February 21, 2024, 3:54 p.m.
Updated: February 21, 2024, 6:48 p.m.
