Pirates Notebook: Edward Olivares proving to be a perfect fit
When the Pirates traded for Edward Olivares in the offseason, it was not a move that dominated headlines. The 28-year-old was expected to serve as a depth piece, but through 14 games, he has been much more. As the Pirates have gotten off to a 10-4 start, Olivares has been one of their main power threats.
Through the first 10 games of his Pirates career, Olivares has hit three home runs and added seven RBI to his resume. Entering play on Saturday, he leads the team in home runs and is one of three Pirates with more than one. After showing off his power in 107 games for the Royals last year, he has picked up where he left off.
Additionally, the Venezuelan native has been an on-base machine. In 35 at-bats, Olivares has posted a .314 batting average. He has also recorded at least one hit in eight of his last ten games. During that stretch, Olivares has drawn three walks.
While it is only a small sample size, Olivares has made his presence felt. He has been one of Pittsburgh’s most consistent bats while hitting the ball hard. As a result, he has been a player that Pirates manager Derek Shelton has called on often this season. So far, Olivares has rewarded Shelton’s faith with three multi-hit games this month.
As Oliver’s has come through in key situations, his impact has not gone unnoticed by Pirates manager Derek Shelton, who praised the performance of his outfielder on Thursday night.
“He’s been swinging the bat well,” Shelton said of Olivares on the SportsNet Pittsburgh postgame show. “He’s been getting opportunities. … He just continues to hit the ball on the barrel.”
As the Pirates look to build on their hot start, Olivares should continue to see his name in the lineup. The former Royal has already proven he can hit major league pitching and his power is not easy to replace.