Pirates manager Don Kelly said Sunday that he plans to use Triolo as the team's everyday shortstop to begin the season, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "Just feel like he's been so good at short in his limited time last year," Kelly said of Triolo. "He's good anywhere you put him. But just felt like being a shortstop, having him there when he's on the field is really important."

EDGE Analysis

A Gold Glove Award winner as a utility man in 2024, Triolo continued to provide strong defense at multiple infield spots in 2025, logging 44 starts at shortstop, 30 at third base, 12 at first base and 10 at second base. He'll carry eligibility at the former two positions in most fantasy leagues heading into 2026, but the Pirates seemingly want to deploy Triolo on more of a full-time basis at shortstop rather than shifting him all over the infield as needs arise. Triolo has already proved that he belongs in the big leagues defensively, but the jury is still out as to whether he's worthy of a regular spot in the everyday lineup. The 28-year-old owns a mediocre 87 wRC+ over parts of three seasons in the big leagues, but he took a major step forward in the second half of 2025, slashing .276/.353/.422 (117 wRC+) with four home runs and eight stolen bases across 216 plate appearances.

Triolo is expected to start at third base for the Pirates to begin the 2026 season, Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

EDGE Analysis

Triolo is an elite defender at both second and third base, and is also capable of filling in at shortstop. The Pirates value that versatility, but the team has failed to land any of their targets at third base this offseason. That leaves Triolo as the favorite to start at the hot corner, though his productivity as a hitter could dictate his ability to remain an everyday player. Triolo has a career 87 wRC+ across 1,031 plate appearances, though he posted a 117 wRC+ across 216 plate appearances in the second half of 2025.

Triolo went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double, three total RBI and an additional run scored in Sunday's 11-0 win over the A's.

EDGE Analysis

Triolo extended Pittsburgh's lead to 4-0 in the second inning with a 402-foot blast off Mitch Spence, his seventh homer this year. Triolo's four hits Sunday also marked a season high. The 27-year-old infielder is batting .304 with an .879 OPS and four homers in his last 30 contests.

Triolo went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in a 5-1 win against the Nationals on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Triolo capped a late Pittsburgh offensive surge with a 409-foot solo blast in the ninth inning. The long ball was the only extra-base hit by either team in a game that featured strong starting pitching on both sides. Triolo finished with his third straight multi-hit performance, and he's gone 6-for-14 with three extra-base hits during that span.

Triolo went 2-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, two runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old infielder was a force at the top of the lineup, producing his eighth multi-hit performance since Aug. 15. Over that 17-game stretch, Triolo is slashing .375/.485/.625 with nine extra-base hits (six doubles, a triple and two homers) in addition to five steals, seven RBI and 12 runs. While he won't maintain that blistering pace, Triolo has shown flashes of offensive upside in the past, and he could be establishing a foothold in the Pirates' 2026 plans.

Triolo is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

Triolo saw his streak of five straight multi-hit games come to an end during Wednesday's 2-1 win, though he drew two walks and scored a run. With Triolo getting a day off Thursday, the Pirates will turn to Liover Peguero at shortstop.

Triolo will start at shortstop and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

EDGE Analysis

Triolo will occupy the leadoff spot for a second straight matchup versus a right-handed pitcher, and he's also hit leadoff each of the last two times the Pirates have gone up against a lefty. The infielder has earned a move up in the batting order by tallying five straight multi-hit games and slashing .338/.420/.506 in August.

Triolo went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run and a stolen base during Sunday's 4-0 win over the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Triolo has homered in back-to-back games, a streak that immediately followed a homer drought that lasted over two months and spanned 85 at-bats. Sunday's long ball was Triolo's fifth of the season, and his stolen base put his season total at nine. Triolo has a hit in each of his last five games, going 8-for-17 (.471) with four extra-base hits during that stretch.

Triolo went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a triple and an additional run scored in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Rockies.

EDGE Analysis

Triolo launched a two-run homer in the third inning before adding a triple and scoring again in the fifth. While it was the 27-year-old's first long ball since June 19, he's hitting .303 with six extra-base hits, five RBI, 11 runs scored and three stolen bases through 20 games in August. For the season, he's still slashing a modest .205/.229/.322 with four homers, 15 RBI, 23 runs scored and eight steals across 237 plate appearances.

Triolo went 0-for-1 with three walks, a steal and one run scored in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Triolo pilfered his eighth base of the season when he stole second off Blue Jays reliever Yariel Rodriguez in the sixth. The Pittsburgh infielder has become a staple of the starting lineup since Ke'Bryan Hayes was shipped out at the trade deadline, as he garnered his eighth consecutive start at shortstop. Triolo has made the most of his opportunity, hitting .274 (14-for-51) with three steals, nine runs scored, three RBI and 9:12 BB:K across 16 games this month.