Mercer In, Barmes Out At Short For The Pirates

PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) --The Pittsburgh Pirates will be swapping out their shortstop position, Travis Sawchik of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review told 93-7 The Fan on Starkey, Miller and a Mueller Monday afternoon.

According to Sawchick, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle informed Clint Barmes and Jordy Mercer that Mercer will begin to assume the majority of playing time at shortstop.

"He (Hurdle) like the way Mercer is playing defense, likes the way he's swinging the bat, thinks he's taking better angles defensively at shortstop and he thinks he's earned more playing time," Sawchik said. "He might not quite be an everyday shortstop, but he's going to get the lion share of work going forward."

Coming into Monday night's game against the Reds, Mercer was hitting .289 while Barmes' batting average had dipped to .198.

While the news may come as a shock to some, on Sunday however, Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington foreshadowed this move on his weekly radio show on Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan.

"Jordy may get more time at short, but there may come a time where Barmes gets more time at short once the league has figured Jordy out a bit," he said.

Sawchik also reported that first round pick Reese McGuire is set to sign with the Pirates Tuesday.

RELATED LINKS
More Sports
More Pirates