(Photo by Charles LeClaire/USA Today Sports)

Today I figured, let’s just have a little fun with things.

Perhaps I noticed this much more than I usually would because I was actually at the Pirates game on Tuesday, but the infield that Pittsburgh sported in their second game against the St. Louis Cardinals this week was one of the most random collections of guys I’ve ever seen in my life. 

In a sense, it’s a testament to how slow Ben Cherington’s Pirates rebuild is going. We are now in year four of Cherington’s vision, and we are still seeing obscure and below average major leaguers playing a decent amount of games for the Pirates, and some in prominent positions. 

It was an infield that I would expect many casual fans to not know 3/4 of the players near the bases, which is not a great sign for the Pirates at this current stage. 

But, at the same time, and maybe this is just me, but I find a lot of entertainment in games where a team is fielding a roster of mostly unknowns, and I always hope that a group like that does well, and on Tuesday, they did. 

Also of note was the sheer difference in the batting order for these four men: Vinny Capra, Alfonso Rivas, and Alika Williams had filled out the bottom three in the order for the Bucs. Ji Hwan Bae was leading off. 

I honestly can’t fully explain why I find this particular ragtag group so fascinating, but I do, so I figured I might as well give them a little shoutout. 

Alfonso Rivas, First Base

The first baseman coming back as part of the package Pittsburgh got for Rich Hill and Ji Man Choi, Rivas started off his Pirates tenure with an incredible first week. Unfortunately, he has since come crashing down to earth, and his batting average is now slumping below .200. 

Rivas, who right now is considered by some as just a stopgap until the offseason, is playing for a potential job in 2024.

He’s in just his second season playing a regular role in the major leagues, starting after the trade from San Diego. Over his career, Rivas has had flash in the pan moments, bit his biggest problem has been his consistency at the plate.

Rivas has also shown some nifty work on the defensive side, making some impressive plays and catches to secure outs at first base. 

On Tuesday, Rivas recorded a hit in three at bats, and would eventually reach home plate too.

Ji Hwan Bae, Second Base

Bae is the only player in this wacky infield that I would expect casual fans to know. He is the only member of this group to have started the season with the Pirates, and has by far played the most games in Pittsburgh this season, with 80 (the next closest is Williams’ 25). 

Usually parked in center field, the incredibly speedy Bae has also seen a few games in the infield, primarily at second base, like he was on Tuesday. He plays the position decently well, but personally I think he is better suited for the outfield, especially as Jack Suwinski has been sitting the last few games. 

Bae, recently called back up from a rehab conditioning stint with Triple-A Indianapolis, is hitting a .286 since his return, and has a .241 over his entire season with the Pirates. 

On Tuesday, in the leadoff spot, Bae knocked in one hit, as well as a run batted in and scoring himself early on in the game. He also drew a walk. 

Bae is aiming to maintain a full time roster spot in 2024, and while he has all the tools to do it, the Pirates are hoping he can up his stats in the batting department a little. 

Alika Wlliams, Shortstop

Alika Williams is a very controversial player here for the Pirates right now. Much maligned for a few poor games, that criticism has only increased after he survived a roster shakeup that saw Jared Triolo end up back in Triple-A. 

Williams, who has definitely had his gaffes, is not as bad of a batter as one might think. He currently has a .230, which isn’t spectacular, but some of the disdain for Williams would lead you to believe it’s far lower than it actually is. 

For those who remember relief pitcher Robert Stephenson, Williams was the returning minor league shortstop in the deal. 

Perhaps this is an indicator of how unbelievably poor this team is at bunting, but during Tuesday’s game, Williams laid down a perfectly placed bunt, one that Cardinal Nolan Arenado could not get to in time. The bunt loaded the bases, and eventually led to three runs scored (more on that later). 

That was the highlight and only hit of Alika’s night; he would strike out and ground out in his other two at bats. 

Vinny Capra, Third Base

Playing just his 12th career Major League Baseball game on Tuesday, the 27 year old infielder had just 3 games under his belt as a Pirate prior to Tuesday. 

Capra was called up after Henry Davis was placed on the injured list, and Capra was also subject to questioning as to why it was him, and not Triolo, who was brought up to fill the void in the roster. 

Intriguingly playing third base instead of Ke’Bryan Hayes, Capra may not have been as sharp and smooth as the league-recognized Hayes, but he got the job done on Tuesday. At the plate, Capra did record a hit and eventually a run for the Pirates. 

Much like Williams, Capra was the return for a trade you might have forgotten about: when the Pirates traded catcher Tyler Heineman to the Toronto Blue Jays. 

Capra’s single shot into the outfield was just his second hit in his Pittsburgh Pirates career.

The Infield Scores Together

Above all else, here’s my favorite stat of the night: all four of these guys rallied together during the Pirates’ dominant fifth inning. 

After a Joshua Palacios flyout, Capra gets a single to right field to get on base. After that, Rivas gets a ground ball through the infield; Capra holds at second. With two on and one out, Williams lays down his aforementioned perfect bunt, loading the bases. Finally, to cap it all off, Bae would ground out at first, but Capra gets home successfully. 

A Bryan Reynolds double would also subsequently bring in Rivas and Williams before Andrew McCutchen homered. 

It truly is the most random groups that are the most fun.