''It's cool that you've been in this game long enough to be able to be called somewhat of a veteran,'' Mercer said. Since he first took over as the starting shortstop in 2013, Mercer has already cycled through two each regular second basemen and third basemen and a different primary first baseman in each of the five seasons.Īmong the Pirates' regular starting eight and starting rotation, only outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte have had longer tenures with the team than Mercer.
He started 142 of Pittsburgh's 162 games last season, a career high. That's left Mercer as the lone position player assured of starting who's been with the Pirates over about a two-week period this spring.īut even when all proverbial hands are on deck, Mercer has established himself as one of the Pirates' bedrocks. Five of the eight lineup regulars are taking part in the World Baseball Classic and another - third baseman Jung Ho Kang - remains stuck in South Korea because of visa issues relating to his DUI arrest this past winter. It helps you a lot.''įor much of this month, Mercer has been serving as ''the guy'' among virtually all of the team's position players - if for no other reason that he's something of the last man standing. You always want a guy like him in your infield. ''He's the leader in the infield, no doubt,'' said the Pirates infield instructor and third base coach, Joey Cora. Now, at 30 and entering his sixth season in the major leagues, the shortstop has become ''the veteran'' among the Pirates infielders. It wasn't that long ago that Mercer was ''the kid'' in the Pirates' clubhouse. It's awesome to see that- we have an unbelievable group of kids right now.'' ''These kids,'' Mercer said while scanning the room early one morning last week at LECOM Park, ''there's some quality kids coming through here right now. (AP) When Jordy Mercer looks around the Pirates' clubhouse, the term he instinctively goes to in referring to his teammates isn't the one he'd always used.