Mercer focusing on endurance, eyes 162 in ’17

PITTSBURGH — Starting just before Thanksgiving, Clint Hurdle calls each of his players. They talk about the end of this past season, the offseason and changes on the coaching staff. Finally, they kick around ideas they might put into action in Spring Training.

When Hurdle phoned Jordy Mercer, the shortstop had a few ideas of his own. For one? Mercer wants to play all 162 games, a noble goal unlikely to make it through the Pirates’ preventative rest protocol. So, how did Hurdle respond?

“He’s like, ‘No, you’re not,'” Mercer said, grinning. “I’m like, ‘Nah, let’s just think about it.’

“We’re going to think about it.”

Amid the Pirates’ roster turnover this past year, Hurdle hasn’t had to think much about Mercer. He has established himself at shortstop, and that won’t change in 2017.

Mercer played in 149 games last season, tying his career best and finishing second on the Pirates behind only Andrew McCutchen’s 153. His offensive numbers ticked up as he posted a career-high walk rate (8.7 percent) and a career-low strikeout rate (14.2 percent). Overall, he batted .256/.328/.374 with 11 home runs and 59 RBIs — a …

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