INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The hitting prospects in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ system are used to being the youngest on the field.
For example, since the 2019 season, Canaan Smith-Njigba has one game — with three at bats — against a pitcher that is younger than him. That occurred this season in St. Paul.
While that task can be daunting for some, Smith-Njigba takes it as a challenge. However, it’s not a challenge that makes him uneasy in any form.
“There are always pros and cons,“ Smith-Njigba said. “I think it’s kind of cool when I face somebody that I know has been in the big leagues. Like, I remember watching him when I was little. I just think, those guys up there, they know what they’re doing. They’ve had a lot more trials and tribulations in this game than obviously I have, but it’s just the same old game.”
As a group, the Indianapolis position players are the youngest in the International League — a full half-year younger on average than the second-youngest team.
Mason Martin faced the same younger pitcher in St. Paul this season, and had nine total plate appearances last season against a younger foe.
Similarly, Martin is not overwhelmed by the challenge. He said he tends to look at everyone on the field the same, regardless of size and age.
“It’s not something I really notice,” Martin said. “I don’t think about someone being so much older than me. Obviously in baseball, there’s tradition with guys who have played in the big league and guys that have played in the big leagues for a long period of time. That’s something I have yet to really experience. I just try to treat everybody the same.”
Cal Mitchell has one game this year against a younger player, and nine total plate appearances last season. Oneil Cruz is very similar with only one game this year and 12 plate appearances last season with the situation.
Ji-hwan Bae played in the same St. Paul game and has two other games where he faced a younger hurler this season. Last season, he had 14 plate appearances against a pitcher to his minor. Rodolfo Castro has the same three games this year and 10 plate appearances last year.
Even the veteran of the group, Travis Swaggerty, at nearly 25 years old, still doesn’t have all that many. This season, Swaggerty only has 16 games where he is faced a pitcher younger than him.
For hitting coach Eric Munson, the challenge is determining the communication styles for the young hitters. He said that the guys have been very receptive to their style and have been very easy to work with. According to Munson, honesty is the key to their communication.
Additionally, Munson offers credit to a couple of the older hitters on the team, who work as mediums between them.
“We also have some older guys that are more veterans, who have some years under their belt,” Munson said. “They are really putting themselves in the middle of the younger guys and really helping them out. Not only on offense, but on defense as well. Guys like Bligh [Madris] and [Jared] Oliva have been huge for us, Taylor Davis, some of the other guys that have time. They help relay our message and stay in the middle of it. It’s been a great mix.”
While there certainly is an age discrepancy, the younger hitters take the same outlook as Smith-Njigba, and are looking forward to facing even older pitchers at the next step.
“I don’t really look into that, because they’re on the same field that I’m on,” Smith-Njigba said. “It’s a privilege, but I’m also here to dominate and get out of here and face even older dudes when I’m in the show.”
