BRADENTON, Fla. — Connor Joe's journeyman career wasn't projected to transpire as such, at least not initially.
A first-round selection by the Pirates back in 2014, Joe was a highly coveted hitting prospect coming out of the University of San Diego, where he led the Toreros in homers and RBIs his junior year. But while he was scorching at the plate in sunny southern California, the now-versatile Joe had already got his first taste of moving around the field.
"It really started in college," Joe said. "I went into college as a middle infielder, played a little third base and then just by needs of the team, moved around and played first base, played outfield. And I caught a little bit in college, too."
Nine years and four teams later, Joe is back with the Pirates following an offseason trade with the Rockies. These days, Joe operates primarily at first base and in the outfield, since plans to stick him behind the dish never materialized at the professional level.
The 30-year-old Joe's winding journey to the big leagues has been predicated primarily on two aspects of his game: flexibility and the ability to hit left-handed pitching. After toiling in the minor leagues for a number of years, Joe found a home in Colorado the last two seasons courtesy of both traits.
With the Rockies, Joe logged 678 of his 694 career major league plate appearances and fared better against lefties than righties, registering a batting average that was 27 percentage points higher (.270 vs. .243). There isn't anything in particular Joe can point to that he believes aids the right-handed hitter against southpaws other than the traditional logic that he can see their pitches better.
But while Joe's somewhat been able to specialize his brand as a player who can thrive against lefties, it's been the willingness to trot out to wherever he's been needed on the field that's paved the way for him to stay in the big leagues.
"It's huge. It's allowed me a lot more opportunities than being stuck in one spot," Joe said. "I think teams always need someone that can play multiple spots. Managers appreciate that, gives them a little bit of flexibility to shake things up. It's been really crucial in my career and something that I've really embraced."
Manager Derek Shelton tends to agree. Two of Shelton's campaigns leading the club have come with the ability to use a designated hitter. Though Joe has served as his team's designated hitter 30 times, he and his new manager agree that as nuances of the game like double switches dwindle away, it's Joe's ability to set up shop at multiple spots on the diamond that stands out.
"I think it's extremely valuable," Shelton said. "It's something we valued personally as an organization here for at least the last three years, being able to play multiple positions, both corners. Playing first base is vital because of the fact that you can mix and match.
"It creates a ton of competition. Guys that can play multiple positions ... it provides the ability to do different things with your roster."
By no means is Joe the most prolific defensive player in baseball, considering he's saved six defensive runs across what amounts to a little over a full major league season, per FanGraphs. He doesn't have to be a wizard in the field, though, considering the Pirates had the fourth-lowest defensive runs above average in the majors last season.
Pittsburgh is simply looking for Joe to provide a stable defensive presence, and any added offense it can get from him is a plus. If he can keep up his quick start to the spring into the regular season, the Pirates may look pretty wise for dealing minor league right-hander Nick Garcia in exchange for Joe.
Through four spring training games, Joe's bat must think it's still being swung in the high altitude of Colorado. He's reached base five out of 10 times, going 3 for 8 with a double and a couple of walks.
The Pirates have plenty of young outfielders they must continue giving repetitions to see what they truly have with the likes of Canaan Smith-Njigba, Travis Swaggerty, Cal Mitchell and more. But if Joe keeps on hitting to complement his positional flexibility, he very well may get some extended run should he crack the opening day roster.
"Being able to play a lot of positions, especially in today's game, it's important, right?" Joe said. "To get guys off their feet and be able to play multiple spots, to get in the lineup that way, it's important to me."
