INDIANAPOLIS — He hasn’t been in Triple-A for even a full month, but Jordan Luplow is heading to the major leagues.
Luplow will join the Pirates on Friday for their series at San Diego after playing just 21 games with Triple-A Indianapolis, learning of the promotion early Wednesday evening.
That’s not much experience at the Triple-A level, but not the end of the world according to Indianapolis manager Andy Barkett. He managed four seasons at the Double-A level in the Marlins’ organization and estimated he sent 20 to 25 players from that level straight to the major leagues.
“Obviously, in a perfect world, would you like to have more Triple-A experience? Yes,” Barkett said. “But when a player is showing that he can handle the level that he’s at, there’s no magic theory or magic number when a guy is ready. It’s an inexact science.”
Luplow has shown he can handle Triple-A pitching, albeit in a small sample size. He has a slash line of .324/.407/.568 with a .975 OPS in 74 at-bats with Indianapolis.
He’s the first member of the 2014 Draft Class to reach the major leagues. The corner outfielder has hit 21 homers with Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona this season but his skill has shown past those statistics.
“He grinds out at-bats,” Barkett said. “He fights through at-bats and he’s not afraid to swing the bat, attack the zone early in the count. He’s not afraid to be able to play the game aggressively with reckless abandon.”
That evaluation comprised the crux of Barkett’s message to Luplow yesterday.
“I encouraged him to go up there and keep doing the same thing he’s been doing,” Barkett said. “It was good enough to get him there, so keep doing it while you were there.”
Luplow has shown he can hit at the Triple-A level, but his defense in the outfield has had a few lapses. He has shown good arm strength, but has misplayed a few fly balls due to running bad routes.
“I saw him last year and I wasn’t impressed with his routes as an outfielder,” said Barkett, who was an assistant hitting coordinator in the organization last season. “I’ve really been impressed with the way he’s played outfield here. Right field has been a little bit of a challenge for him because it’s something he hasn’t played a lot, but I think it’s improved. He’s gotten better.”
In Indianapolis, Luplow has played 16 games in left field and four games in right field. Larry Broadway, director of minor league operations, characterized Luplow’s development as simply needing to learn the nuances of first-step routes and the initial read of the ball off the bat.
“I think he’s done a nice job with how he played in Altoona in left,” Broadway said. “He took a lot of pride in going about his business. He got a few good jumps on the ball, ran some balls down that we hadn’t seen him run down in the past. I think he’s in a good spot to continue his path there. In the field, just continuing routes and first steps. Try to get a little more and a little faster. His arm strength is pretty good and he’s pretty accurate.”
Luplow will be the second person in his family to reach the major leagues in Pittsburgh, joining his great-uncle Al Luplow, who played his last of seven seasons with the Pirates.
Pittsburgh could have gone with Danny Ortiz to fill what could be a temporary need in the outfield. But Luplow has produced enough offensively to push his name the forefront of the help list. In a worst-case scenario, Luplow will gain some valuable experience moving forward. But if he can keep that momentum Luplow might earn his way into a permanent spot with the Pirates.
