If you really think about it, this is truly the best time of year if you are a baseball fan. There’s nothing like a crack of a bat, or pop of a ball hitting a glove after months without the sport to really get the juices going.
It’s a time of year when even the most pessimistic of people can find a glimmer of hope in watching the most simplistic part of the sport we love.
Over the last couple of days we’ve talked about some notable changes a few players have gone through, from batting stances, to new pitches, or to even some bulking up in preparing for the long season.
While finding the simple beauty for the game, it can be easy to fall into some of the same old clichés when gearing up for the season, like the ‘he’s in the best shape of his life’ trope, or even the clubhouse giving off ‘different vibes’.
With the veteran presence that the Pirates added in the offseason, there would be a huge issue if there wasn’t a different vibe being given off a year after yet another 100-loss season.
For those of you suffering from prospect fatigue over Pirates IF Nick Gonzalez, please just watch the ⚾️
This round was indicative of what we’ve seen so far; loud, long consistent barrels swing after swing. Near perfect in def drills too. A big season is in sight. pic.twitter.com/xMMar4R11U— Florida Prospect Report (@FLProspectPod) February 20, 2023
But, it’s everywhere all throughout camp, and it’s hard to scroll through social media right now and not see something on the veteran presence and the impact it has had early on.
When it’s all said and done, it will be up to the core players that these veterans were brought in to help to eventually make an impact on the field. In the meantime, it’s been fun to see so many of them embrace that veteran role so quickly and seamlessly.
The Termarr Johnson Factor
I came away fairly impressed with Termarr Johnson in his brief Bradenton cameo last year. There was a lot to like in a really small sample size. Of the players in camp not expected to make the majors this season, he may be the most exciting one to watch.
When I looked up and found out he was still going to be 18-years-old, in major league camp, it impressed me even more what he did at the tail end of 2022.
It doesn’t even matter if he gets into any major league games this spring. The added knowledge he can soak in will be big, and fuel a potential big season in the lower levels this year.
Pirates Prospects Daily
By Tim Williams
**Our latest article drop will have articles from Anthony Murphy, Ethan Hullihen, and myself. Anthony will have features on Endy Rodriguez and Yerry De Los Santos. Ethan will have his latest Pirates Business feature. I’ll have my ZiPS analysis of the 2023 season. Those will go up at noon today.
**Wilbur Miller has photos from the first full squad workout at Pirate City.
**In the latest Pirates DVR, Malcom Nunez gets work at third base, along with videos of Shalin Polanco and Roansy Contreras.
**Missed yesterday? Anthony wrote about the leadership that Austin Hedges has been showing early in camp.
Song of the Day
And now we need a pound of fat back drums.
