Matt Joyce Trying To Be Pirates' Fourth Outfielder
Coming off a career-worst season, outfielder Matt Joyce is trying to be the Pirates fourth outfielder when camp breaks next week.
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Coming off a career-worst season, outfielder Matt Joyce is trying to be the Pirates fourth outfielder when camp breaks next week.
You see it in all walks of life, where sons follow their fathers into their chosen profession. For 28-year-old Cole Figueroa, the family business is baseball.
For a second straight spring the Pirates brought back Kevin Young to work with the first basemen at camp. The Pirates converted Young from a third baseman to first early in his career and he led the National League in 1993 in fielding percentage.
It's just another chance to put on the Pirates uniform for a little over a month that puts Mike LaValliere right back where he wants to be. The former Pirates catcher returned again this year to be an instructor during Pirates Spring Training.
He can be the smartest and dumbest person in a Pirates uniform, all in the same inning and he doesn't even play. It's third base coach Rick Sofield.
Jonathan Niese went 6 innings, throwing 73 pitches and giving up a pair of homers as the Orioles scored in the 9th to win 6-5 in Sarasota on Thursday.
When he came over in a trade with Milwaukee, it appeared right-hitting Jason Rogers could be the Pirates' first baseman in 2016. But, much has transpired since Dec. 17.
The competition for the final two rotation spots continued in Bradenton Wednesday as the Pirates beat Baltimore 6-5. Jeff Locke went 5 innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits and struck out 3.
Jared Hughes said he felt pain in his left lat during his last outing and he has been diagnosed with a lat strain and is day-to-day. It's a new injury for Hughes who said there was a specific moment where he felt it.
Pirates GM Neal Huntington said Monday morning they have three guys fighting for the last two starting rotation spots. It's the first time this Spring anyone from the club has officially mentioned names with battles in regards to the rotation.
Juan Nicasio was dominant again leading a Pirates split squad team in Ft. Myers to a 2-0 win over Minnesota. Nicasio struck over eight over five scoreless while allowing five hits. So far this Spring, Nicasio has gone 15 innings, allowed no runs and struck out 24.
Andrew McCutchen hit his fourth homer in five games, again hitting in the second spot of the lineup as the Blue Jays beat the Pirates 3-2 in Dunedin.
Ryan Vogelsong threw a simulated five-inning game at Pirate City, saying he's in a good place and anxious to just be a part of the Pirates' rotation in two weeks.
It's been a couple of brutal outings for Pirates relievers as the Bucs lost to the Phillies 15-12 Friday in Clearwater.
Signed on Friday to a one-year, three million dollar contract, David Freese made his Pirates debut on Thursday.
The New York Yankees beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-2 in Bradenton on Thursday as Jeff Locke gave up five earned runs over 5 innings. Locke said while he made some mistakes, he felt like he pitched really well.
"The game is still the game, still going to get pitches to hit, just in the lineup earlier and that's it" - Andrew McCutchen
Spring Training numbers don't mean much, but in the case of right-handed pitcher Juan Nicasio, they just might win him a spot in the Pirates' rotation.
It's a spring start, so you have to take that into account, BUT when you strikeout 10 of the 14 batters you face, against likely the Orioles regular lineup, you take notice.
Pirates pitching prospect Tyler Glasnow is one of the early roster moves by the Pirates today.
Andrew McCutchen finally hit a home run and the Pirates finally won a game at McKechnie Field – 4-3 over the Rays on Friday.
Although the results don't count right now, at some point they will start to matter. And at some point, it would be nice for the Pirates to actually win another Grapefruit League game.
Michael Morse adds a winning presence to what is already a winning team here in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates lost their fourth straight Grapefruit League game, 6-2 to the Boston Red Sox at McKechnie Field Wednesday, but manager Clint Hurdle had some positive postgame news - Gerrit Cole is getting closer.
If pitcher Steven Brault isn't your favorite Pirates' minor leaguer, then he should be.
