We’re 12 days away from when pitchers and catchers officially report to camp for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
As of now, there are a handful of prospects at camp for instructs. Henry Davis has been having a good time sending a couple balls over the wall.
Pirates C prospect Henry Davis drives another 2-0 offering high and far to deep CF #power pic.twitter.com/VDuiUdZBE1
— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) February 2, 2023
Malcom Nunez has been getting some repetitions at third base.
Baseball people tell me that PITT corner prospect Malcolm Nuñez has good glove game. Now that I get to see it for myself, they’re right! Nuñny can pick it! #defense pic.twitter.com/yivRKRiiBB
— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) February 2, 2023
John Dreker detailed the list non-roster invitees on Thursday, which included a previously unannounced signing of infielder Chris Owings. If you’d like an entire list of all who will be attending camp, Pirates beat reporter Alex Stumpf posted a full roster.
Over the course of the last few weeks, the major publications have been releasing their Top 100 lists with Kiley McDaniel at ESPN having posted the most recent list. Then Keith Law, after having posted his own Top 100 list, released his farm rankings that had the Pirates ranked sixth.
With all major roster acquisitions likely to be done for the time being, most attention will turn to position battles. There doesn’t stand to be that many spots, and most competition will probably be for who gets first shot at an opening if an injury were to occur.
The most likely open position battles will be for backup catcher and one to two outfield positions.
I’d say that Tyler Heineman has the leg up for backup catcher, but maybe Carter Bins comes into camp showing some better contact that will allow his power to play.
Bryan Reynolds and Jack Suwinski are the two favorites to garner outfield spots, but I imagine going into camp that Reynolds is the only one of the two with an assured spot. One thing I’ll be keeping an eye open for is whether Reynolds plays strictly in center field, or if he is seeing time in the corner spots as well.
Assumptions would be that Vince Velasquez has the fifth starter role, but of the five presumed starters, his spot would be the one that could potentially flip. The bullpen seems to be mostly filled out with returning pitchers and a couple acquisitions.
Which potential battles are you looking forward to? Is there anyone that you believe will force their way on to the roster much like Diego Castillo did last Spring Training?
