The minor league spring training games began today, with the Indy Indians facing off against the Las Vegas 51's in Dunedin.  Info about the minor league games tends to be sketchy at best, and often non-existent, but this evening we got some info:
51's  5,  Indians  2  --   Rudy Owens got the start in the Indians' first game.  He pitched 3 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits, no walks, with 3 strikeouts.  The runs came in the 3rd, with former Indy Indian (2005-06) Craig Stansberry contributing to the rally.  The Indians scored one of their runs in the top of the 1st, on three consecutive hits by CF Gorkys Hernandez, SS Chase d'Arnaud, and 1B Matt Hague (RBI).  Stansberry picked up another RBI in Las Vegas' 3-run 7th inning.  


Meanwhile, back to the middle infielders:

Brock Holt --  Bats L / Throws R;  5' 10",  165 lbsHolt was the Pirates' 9th round pick in the 2009 draft.  He can play both second base and shortstop, and did both at State College in 2009, though more at short.  He also hit well for the Spikes, with a .299 average, 6 homers, and 33 RBI in 66 games.  The Pirates thought well enough of him to have him begin 2010 at A+ Bradenton (skipping A level West Virginia).  It was a good move, at least offensively, as Holt got off to a roaring start -- he hit .383 in April, .310 in May, and was 9-for-18 in June.  His defense was a little shaky.  Holt made 14 errors in 47 games at shortstop.  Then in early June, Holt collided with teammate Adenson Chourio during a game and tore the median collateral ligament in his knee.  It was a "compound" tear, so it took longer than the average time to heal, and Holt missed the entire rest of the season.  He has said that his rehab time went well, and he was ready to go when spring training began.  Holt could begin the 2011 season back with Bradenton if the Pirates feel he needs more work on defense at that level, but his hitting in 2010 seems to indicate that he'd be ready for AA Altoona.  The 23-year-old Holt has said that he's equally comfortable at second base and shortstop and that he has no particular preference for either one.

Catching up after being away for a few days...

On Saturday, the Pirates sent four pitchers to minor league camp:
RHP Bryan Morris and RHP Kyle McPherson, both on the 40-man roster, were optioned down, with Morris going to AAA Indianapolis and McPherson going to A+ Bradenton.   
Two lefties, Rudy Owens and Justin Wilson, were also sent to the minor league camp, and though their exact level is still not official, both should begin the season with the Indy Indians.  

More moves were made today:
From the 40-man roster--
LHP Jeff Locke, LHP Aaron Thompson, and RHP Ramon Aguero were optioned to AA Altoona 
LHP Daniel Moskos and LHP Tony Watson were optioned to Indianapolis
Outfielders Gorkys Hernandez and Alex Presley were optioned to Indianapolis
Moskos and Presley both spent part of 2010 with Indianapolis, while Watson and Hernandez will make their debut at the AAA level.  Locke, Aguero, and Thompson all spent part of 2010 with Altoona.

Not on the 40-man yet --
Infielders Chase d'Arnaud and Brian Friday and outfielder Andrew Lambo were reassigned to minor league camp.  Friday played in Indianapolis for most of 2010 and should return there.  D'Arnaud and Lambo were in Altoona for 2010;  Lambo is ready for AAA, though d'Arnaud may be asked to go back to Altoona for part of 2011.