BRADENTON, Fla. -- If the family bloodline had any say, Jake Mangum would be studying routes instead of spray charts right now. His father, John, spent nine seasons in the NFL. His grandfather and uncle also played professionally, proving that the football pedigree runs strong among Mangum men.
But Jake called an audible, and on Thursday, he uncorked a throw from the right-field corner that suggested the family talent doesn’t really care which ball it is attached to.
“He brings a lot of energy,” manager Don Kelly said. “We talked about that grit, that toughness that we need. He brings it every day. He's consistent with it. It's a lot of fun to watch.”
When Alan Roden’s single shot up the first-base line and caromed off the wall and into the right-field corner, the Twins hitter thought he had a double in the bag. Mangum and the ball met on the grass at a less-than-ideal angle, with Mangum needing to circle a bit to set his footwork.
As Roden chugged around first base, Mangum reared back and fired a picture-perfect throw to shortstop Nick Gonzales. The ball arrived at second just ahead of Roden, who was caught for the inning-ending out.
What fans at LECOM Park cheered in that moment was one heck of a throw, followed by Mangum pantomiming a throwing motion to his parents in the stands as he jogged off the field to fist bumps from his teammates.
What Bucs faithful didn’t see was the offseason of long-toss workouts between father and son that led up to that moment.
And that was the part that left John and Stacy Mangum beaming from their seats behind home plate.
“I don't think baseball defines who he is, but it's definitely something he loves to do, and it's very important to him,” John Mangum said. “He plays hard, he plays the game the right way, and that's kind of what makes me proud.”
John has plenty to be proud of: His son has built his brand around the words heart and hustle. Jake hit .297 across the Minors with a .351 OBP and committed just seven errors in those 434 career games. Mangum spends the offseason analyzing his skills and working to improve anything he deems necessary. He and his father have spent plenty of time talking swing paths and batting stances, and Jake logs countless hours in the batting cages.
This past offseason, though, the 29-year-old decided improving his throwing was next on the to-do list.
And after an entire winter of aggressive long-tossing six days a week, John Mangum is still recovering.
“My arm is shot,” he said with a laugh. “I'm pushing 60. So he would throw it to me, and I would kind of roll it back.”
Jake’s skills were on full display Thursday even before his laser throw and ensuing nod to his pops in the stands. He led off the bottom of the first inning with a double off the wall, then scrambled home on the next play, scoring the Pirates’ first run with a Superman slide during their 6-4 win against the Twins.
“I'm glad Mangum's on our team now rather than seeing him,” Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes said. “He gave us some fits last year.”
Those “fits” represent the same qualities that led the Pirates to trade for Mangum on Dec. 19 last year. Fresh off a standout rookie campaign during which he slashed .296/.330/.368 over 428 plate appearances, along with 27 steals and six outs above average, Mangum brings a little bit of everything to his newest team. He can play all three outfield positions, something he did errorlessly in 2025.
“What we've been talking about lately is that we need to quit talking about it and go do it,” Mangum said. “I think that we're going to do that. I'm really excited about this ballclub, and I am fired up to be a part of it.”
He’s also a switch-hitter with the speed to make things happen on the basepaths: He logged 32 infield hits last season, tied with the Phillies’ Trea Turner for MLB’s best, all things working in his favor as Pittsburgh works to increase its NL-low .231 team batting average and 583 runs scored from last season.
If John Mangum passed down his work ethic, Stacy undoubtedly gave Jake the heart that leads him to approach each day with spirit and a genuine joy for the game.
And that’s why now, in a house built around football Sundays, the Mangums are now very much enjoying their summer nights instead.