Tag: Luis Figueroa

The Caribbean Series continues on Sunday:

Venezuela  3,  Dominican Republic  0  --  Dean Treanor's Dominican team was shut out this afternoon despite posting 8 hits.  They managed only one hit over the first three innings, and that base runner was eliminated with a double play.  The Dominicans had at least one hit, plus 4 walks over the rest of the game, but only one time (6th inning) got a runner as far as third base.  Venezuela scored on a walk, a throwing error on a bunt, and their first single of the game in the 4th inning.  They added a solo homer in the 5th, then one more insurance run in the 8th with a walk and two singles.  

Puerto Rico  7,  Mexico  6  --  Puerto Rico began with a run in the bottom of the 1st on a walk and two singles.  The Puerto Rican starter, Joey Newby worked around a walk and a single in the 1st, then began the 2nd inning with 3 consecutive walks.  He was relieved, but two runs scored on a fielding error by SS Luis Figueroa.  Figueroa redeemed himself by driving in two runs with a double in the bottom of the inning, and another RBI single made the score 4-2 for Puerto Rico.  Both teams scored 2 runs in the 5th inning.  Mexico used a double and three singles, while Puerto Rico used a walk, a double, a single, and a sacrifice fly.  A solo homer by Mexico in the top of the 7th brought Mexico within one run of Puerto Rico, for a 6-5 score.  But the Puerto Ricans added an insurance run in the bottom of the 8th on a walk and two singles.  Three singles again brought Mexico within one run in the top of the 9th, but Puerto Rico was able to cut short their rally and hold on for the win.


The current standings:  Puerto Rico and Mexico are tied for first place with 3-2 records.  Venezuela and the Dominican are also tied with 2-3 records. 

Former Pirate C Carlos Maldonado has signed a minor league contract with the Nationals. 

In the Caribbean Series:
Mexico  6,  Dominican Republic  3  --  The Dominicans were leading 3-1 going into the 8th inning, but Mexico rallied for 2 runs in the top of the inning to tie the score.  A single, a wild pitch, and a single brought in the first run before an out was recorded.   Then with two outs (from two different relief pitchers), a walk and a single scored the tying run.  The Dominicans went down in order in the bottom of the 8th, and the Mexicans came right back to break the tie in the top of the 9th with a 3-run homer.  The Dominican Republic put two runners on in the bottom of the 9th, but could not score, and Mexico had the win.

Puerto Rico  4,   Venezuela  2 --  Two runs in the top of the 10th gave Puerto Rico this win.  The Puerto Ricans began the scoring when a throwing error contributed to an unearned run in the 2nd inning.  They scored again in the 3rd on a single, a walk by SS LuisFigueroa, a bunt that turned into a ground out at second (but they weren't fast enough to turn two), and a sacrifice fly.  Venezuela got onto the scoreboard in the 5th with a bases-loaded RBI ground out, then tied the score with the help of an error in the 7th inning.  Puerto Rico threatened in the top of the 9th, but did not score until the top of the 10th. Figueroa walked, then moved to third on a bunt complicated by a throwing error.  A hit batter loaded the bases, and Figueroa crossed the plate on a walk.  The next batter also walked, forcing in an insurance run.  

Mexico now leads the series with a 3-1 record.  Venezuela is last with a 1-3 record, and both the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are tied at 2-2.

A few signing notes for some former Pirates.  Of course the biggest news is that OF Lastings Milledge has signed a minor league deal with the White Sox.  Inf/Of Alfredo Amezaga (Indy Indians 2005) signed with the Rockies for 2011.  Inf Ramon Vazquez has signed with the Cardinals.

The Caribbean Series began play today with each of the for teams holding a 1-1 record.

Mexico  7,  Venezuela  3  --  The Venezuelans scored a single run in three consecutive innings -- a pair of doubles in the 5th, a fielding error with the bases loaded in the 6th, and a single, a walk, and a sacrifice fly in the 7th.  But Mexico's 4-run 5th inning was enough to overcome all of that.  Two singles and an error on a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases for the Mexicans.  A double cleared the bases for 3 runs, and a single with an error by LF Jose Castillo added the fourth run.   An RBI double and an RBI single gave Mexico 2 runs in the 3rd inning.  Two walks and a throwing error added an unearned run to the Mexico total in the 6th.  

 
Dominican Republic  4,  Puerto Rico  3  --   A 9th inning rally by the Dominicans upended Puerto Rico on their home turf.  Puerto 
Rico took the early lead with one run in the 3rd inning on a walk, a wild pitch, and an RBI double.  Another wild pitch plus a fielding error in left field contributed to Puerto Rico's run in the 5th inning.  The Puerto Rican pitching staff made 2 wild pitches in the top of the 6th, to give Dean Treanor's Dominican team their first run of the game.   Puerto Rico kept ahead with another single run in the 7th inning, on a walk, a sacrifice bunt by SS Luis Figueroa, and an RBI single.  The 9th inning began with Puerto Rico leading 3-1, but with one out, back-to-back walks and a triple drove in 2 runs for the Dominicans to tie the score.  An intentional walk put runners on the corners, then a grounder to first allowed the runner from third to score the go-ahead run before the final out was made.  Puerto Rico tried for a comeback with a single to lead off the 9th, but a double play got the Dominicans out of the inning with the win.


The Australian League
 Adelaide Bite  4,  Sydney Blue Sox  0  --  The Bite got their revenge for being no-hit in Game One by shutting out the Blue Sox in the second game of the semifinal series.  Starter Brandon Maurer allowed the Blue Sox only 4 hits in his 7 innings of work.  He worked around runners on base in 6 of those 7 innings, and walked a batter in each of the first 5 innings, but did not let anyone come around to score.  Reliever Adrian Burnside finished things up for Maurer with two perfect innings.  On the offensive side, DH Quincy Latimore was responsible for 3 of the Bite's 4 RBI.   The run he did not drive in came in the 4th, on a double and a single.  Latimore had the third of three singles in the 5th inning, and he drove in both of the runners on base.  A single, a bunt, and a wild pitch put a runner on third for the Bite in the 7th inning, and Latimore drove that runner in with another RBI single.  Latimore also reached base on an error in the 2nd inning, and made it as far as third base, but a double play ended that inning.  The Bite and the Blue Sox have now each won a game in this 3-game series.  The rubber match will be played on Sunday (early, of course), and the winner will face the Perth Heat in the championship series next weekend.

Day Two of the Caribbean series:

Dominican Republic  6,  Venezuela  5  --  Two runs in the top of the 9th were not enough for Venezuela to catch up to Dean Treanor's Dominican team.  Each team scored a run in the 2nd inning, with a solo homer for the Venezuelans and a walk and a triple for the Dominicans.  A 2-run double by DH Kevin Barker gave the Dominican Republic a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the 3rd.  The Venezuelan team came right back with a 2-run homer in the top of the 4th to tie the score again.  Then the Dominicans took the lead with single runs in three different innings.  A walk and two singles plated a run in the bottom of the 4th.  A sacrifice fly brought in an insurance run in the 6th, and Barker homered in the 7th.  The Venezuelan team made 2 outs to begin the top of the 9th, then kept the game alive with a single and a 2-run homer, but that was all they could get, as a ground out ended the game.

Check out a story about Dean Treanor here.  He used to be a police officer.


Puerto Rico  7,  Mexico  3  --  Puerto Rico began the game with their first six batters reaching base safely:  a single, a double by SS Luis Figueroa, a fielding error, two singles, and another error, accounting for 4 runs.  After a double play, a double drove in the 5th run of the inning.  Mexico got one of the runs back in the bottom of the inning with a walk and two singles.  Two more singles and an error added 2 more runs for Mexico in the 2nd inning.  That was as far as the Mexicans would get, despite posting 12 hits.  Puerto Rico scored again in the 5th with two singles and a double play.  Figueroa had another RBI single in the 6th for Puerto Rico's final run.  


Australian League
Sydney Blue Sox  8,  Adelaide Bite  0  --  Sydney pitcher David Welch opened the semi-final round of the Australian League playoffs by pitching a no-hitter against the Adelaide Bite.  Welch walked the first batter he faced, but left him on base.  He also walked the lead-off batter in the 2nd inning, but picked him off first.  After striking out the side in the 3rd, Welch worked around a missed catch error in the 4th and his third walk in the 5th.  He also had a batter reach base against him in the 8th on another error, but erased that runner with a double play.  DH Quincy Latimore went 0-for-4, and had one of Welch's 10 strikeouts.  Meanwhile, Welch's teammates were providing him with plenty of run support.  They scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st, knocked a 2-run homer in the 2nd, and added 2 more runs in the 3rd.  One more run scored in the bottom of the 8th.  

One quick signing note:  pitcher Chris Jakubauskas, who was released by the Pirates after the 2010 season, has signed a minor league contract with the Orioles.

The Caribbean series got underway today (Wednesday) with an afternoon game.   It took 15 innings, but Mexico (Los Yaquis de Obregon) beat Indy Indians' manager Dean Treanor's Dominican Republic team (Los Toros del Este) 4-3.  The Dominicans took the lead with a run in the 3rd on two singles and a throwing error.  They made it 3-0 in the 6th with the help of another error that led to two unearned runs.  The Mexican team came back with 2 runs on three singles in the 7th.  The Dominicans were one out away from a win in the bottom of the 9th, when the Mexicans tied the score at 3-3 with a pair of two-out singles and a stolen base.  Five and a half scoreless innings followed, as the relief pitchers took over.  Neither team did much during the 10th, 11th, and 12th innings.  Both teams put two runners on base but couldn't score in the 13th.  The Dominicans threatened in both the top of the 14th and the top of the 15th, but could not push a runner across the plate.  Finally in the bottom of the 15th, the Mexican team again came through after two outs had been recorded.  Three straight singles gave them the winning run.



This evening's game, between Venezuela (Los Caribes de Anzoategui) and Puerto Rico (Los Criollos de Caguas) is in the middle of the 5th, with Venezuela ahead 4-2.  
UPDATE:  VENEZUELA  5,  PUERTO RICO  3  --  The game began with Venezuela scoring 4 runs in the top of the 1st.  The first batter of the game reached base on a throwing error.  A single and a sacrifice fly plated the first run of the game.  After a walk, LF Jose Castillo singled in a run, then a fielding error allowed 2 more runs to score.  A double and an RBI single gave the Puerto Ricans one run in the 3rd inning.  An RBI double in the 5th brought a runner all the way from first base to score Puerto Rico's second run.  The Venezuelans added one more run in the 7th, on another double/single combination.  Puerto Rico also added another run in the 8th.  A single, a walk, and a single by SS Luis Figueroa loaded the bases with no outs.  The next batter bounced into a 3-6-3 double play, but the runner from third was able to score.  

Catching up with a few days' worth of winter league playoff results:

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  7,  Leones de Ponce  5  --  Los Criollos won the Puerto Rican League championship with a win in Game 7 of the series.  Los Leones got onto the scoreboard first, scratching out a run in the top of the 1st.  Los Criollos took a 4-1 lead in the 3rd, with an RBI double and a 3-run homer.  Ponce answered with their own 3-run homer in the top of the 4th, tying the game.  Each team scored one run in the 5th.  Ponce loaded the bases with a walk and two singles, then had their run forced in with a walk.  Los Criollos scored when SS Luis Figueroa led off with a single, raced to third on another single, and scored on a sacrifice fly.  After two quiet innings, Los Criollos rallied again in the bottom of the 8th.  A single and a fielding error put two runners on base, and a fly out and a stolen base moved both runners into scoring position.  A line drive into right field for a single drove in the go-ahead run and an insurance run.  


MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Algodoneros de Guasave   5,  Yaquis de Obregon  4  --  Los Yaquis took the early lead with a 2-run homer in the 2nd and a solo homer in the 3rd.  They scored a 4th run in the 5th inning.  Guasave got their offense going in the 5th inning with 2 runs, then tied the score with a pair of solo homers, including one by 1B Yurendell de Caster in the 8th.  De Caster also singled in the game.  In the top of the 9th, Gusave scored the winning run on a throwing error by the Obregon shortstop.  That tied the series at 3 games each, and forced a seventh game.

Yaquis de Obregon   5,  Algodoneros de Guasave  2  --  A 4-run 4th inning pushed Los Yaquis over Guasave.  A lead-off homer, plus 3 more runs and a 2-RBI single drove in those 4 runs.  Both of Guasave's runs came on solo homers by Marshal McDougall.  The win gave the championship to Obregon.  

Ten weeks until Opening Day for the minor league season....  just in case anyone besides me is counting.

Three playoff games on Wednesday evening, plus the Australians begin their playoffs early on Thursday morning.  I'll be away from the computer for a couple of days, but we'll catch up after that.

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Criollos de Caguas  7,  Leones de Ponce  2  --  Los Criollos forced a seventh game with a win over Los Leones.  Caguas broke a 1-1 tie with 2 runs in the top of the 4th, on a hit batter and a pair of RBI doubles.  That 3-1 score lasted until the top of the 9th, when JR Rodriguez took the mound in relief for Ponce.  Rodriguez had an uncharacteristically tough night, giving up a single and a walk, and then having a batter reaches on a fielding error to load the bases.  Then Caguas' 3B Rey Navarro smashed a grand slam to seal Los Leones' fate.  Ponce added one more run with a single, a walk, and a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th.  The final game of the series will be played on Friday night.

 
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua  8,  Caribes de Anzoategui  4  --  Los Tigres won their first game of the championship series tonight, with both LF Lastings Milledge and 1B Hector Gimenez contributing an RBI.  The game began in a shaky way for Los Tigres, as the first three Caribes' batters in the top of the first all walked, then a run scored on a sacrifice fly.  A solo home run began the top of the 2nd for Los Caribes, and a single and a double added another run.  Los Tigres got going in the bottom of the 2nd with a double and a   fielding error, then an RBI double by Milledge and a sacrifice fly by Gimenez.  Aragua tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the 5th with two walks, including one by CF Jorge Cortes, and an RBI single.  Los Caribes went ahead with a solo homer in the top of the 6th, but Los Tigres tied it again in the bottom of the frame with three singles, one by Gimenez.  Aragua took a definitive lead in the 7th with a 3-run homer, then added an insurance run in the 8th with a walk, a hit batter, and an RBI single.  Wil Ledezma came out to pitch the top of the 8th for Aragua.  He walked the first batter he faced, then got a strikeout, then another walk, and was removed.  Another reliever came on to strike out the next two batters to end the inning.  

Again just two winter league playoff games on Tuesday night -- the Venezuelan championship has the night off.

Signing news:  C Robinzon Diaz has signed a minor league contract with the Rangers.




PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Leones de Ponce  4,  Criollos de Caguas  2  --  Los Leones took a 3-2 game lead in this 7-game series with a win tonight.  Ponce got right down to business with a run on two hits, a throwing error, and a ground out in the top of the 1st.  Los Criollos tied the score with a walk, a double, and an RBI ground out in the bottom of the 1st.  Los Leones made use of another RBI grounder to break the tie in the top of the 3rd, with a run driven in after a single and a double.  An RBI single made it 3-1.  Los Criollos got within one run in the 6th, scoring on a single, a walk, and (guess what?) an RBI ground out.  A solo home run added an insurance run for Ponce in the top of the 9th.  Caguas threatened in the bottom of the 9th, when SS Luis Figueroa was hit by a pitch and moved to third base on a ground-rule double.  A walk loaded the bases, but two fly outs ended the rally and the game.  Figueroa singled in the 3rd and walked in the 7th, but could not come around to score.  Ramon Vazquez struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance.

 
MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE
Algodoneros de Guasave  2,  Yaquis de Obregon  1  --  Pitchers ruled in this game, as Guasave tied the 7-game series at 2 games each.  Los Yaquis were held to 4 hits, and scored their only run with 3 of those hits, all singles, in the top of the 8th.  Their only other hit, another single, came in the 1st inning.  Guasave had just 6 hits, and half of those came in the first two innings.  Their first run was a solo home run in the 6th inning.  they scored again in the 7th inning, when a single, a sacrifice bunt by 1B Yurendell de Caster, and two walks loaded the bases.  An RBI single brought in what turned out to be the winning run.  De Caster had one of the Guasave singles in the 2nd inning.

Just 3 winter league playoff games on Sunday, as the Mexican Pacific League takes a travel day...

PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE
Leones de Ponce  4,  Criollos de Caguas  1  --  Los Criollos out-hit Los Leones, but Los Criollos also left 10 runners stranded, while Ponce had only 5 runners left on base.  Three errors by Los Criollos also contributed to their own demise.  Los Leones scored in the bottom of the 1st with a walk, a stolen base with a throwing error, and an RBI single.  A pair of walks, a bunt, and RBI ground out and an RBI single added 2 runs in the 3rd inning.  Two errors, an intentional walk, and an RBI grounder gave Los Leones an insurance run in the 6th.  Los Criollos scored their only run in the top of the 3rd, with a walk and a triple.  SS Luis Figueroa and 3B Ramon Vazquez each had a single and a walk in the game, and all those times they were left on base.


VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Caribes de Anzoategui  8,  Tigres de Aragua  5  --  A 4-run 3rd inning boosted Los Caribes for the win in the opener of the Venzuelan championship series.  The game began with home runs dominating.  Los Tigres' CF Hernan Iribarren opened the game with a home run.  Los Caribes' lead-off batter CF Endy Chavez homered to begin the bottom of the inning.  In the top of the 2nd, the first Aragua batter was hit by a pitch, and LF Lastings Milledge hit a 2-run homer.  Los Caribes had another solo homer in the bottom of the frame.  Los Caribes changed it up in the 3rd, with three doubles, followed by another homer, to take a 6-3 lead.  Aragua got closer in the 6th, with solo homers (not back-to-back) by DH Hector Gimenez and Milledge.  Los Caribes got some insurance with a run in both the 6th and 7th innings, both times on a single and a double.  In addition to his two homers, Milledge walked and stole second base in the 4th.


DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Toros del Este  4,  Estrellas de Oriente  2  --  Los Toros completed the 5-game sweep of the series with today's win over Los Estrellas.  Pitching ruled this game.  Los Toros recorded only 3 hits, and they scored their 4 runs in the 7th inning using only one hit.  After 6 scoreless innings, a walk, a single, and a sacrifice fly brought in Los Toros first run in the 7th.  A sacrifice fly complicated by both a fielding error and a throwing error gave them their second run, and after an intentional walk to load the bases, a hit batter and an unintentional walk forced in a run each.  A hit batter with the bases loaded also forced in a run for Los Estrellas in the top of the 8th, and they also scored on an RBI single.  

Cheering for the Pirates' players and friends in the winter league playoff games on Saturday night...

VENEZUELAN LEAGUE
Tigres de Aragua  5,  Leones de Caracas  2  --  The Big Cats had to have a one-game playoff because they finished tied for second place in the round robin tournament.  Former Pirate farmhand Ronald Uviedo made the start for Los Leones, and while he made it through the first inning, Los Tigres got to him in the next three innings.  DH Hector Gimenez blasted a solo homer in the 2nd inning.  A walk, a sacrifice bunt by CF Jorge Cortes, and two RBI's on a double and a single gave Aragua another 2 runs in the 3rd inning.  LF Lastings Milledge started the 4th inning rally with a walk, moved to second on a ground out, and to third on a wild pitch.  An RBI single plated Milledge, and sent Uviedo to the showrs.  The Caracas reliever gave up a single to Cortes, then another RBI single gave Aragua their final run.  Caracas scored their first run on a solo homer by LF Mike Ryan in the 2nd inning.  Ryan also singled in the 7th inning, and came around to score from first base on 2B Jose Castillo's RBI double.  Castillo singled in the bottom of the 9th, and C Carlos Maldonado reached base on an error, and was replaced by a pinch-runner.  With two outs, Wil Ledezma came on to make the final out, earning a save.  Los Tigres will now face Los Caribes in the championship series.  


DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Toros del Este  11,  Estrellas de Oriente  2  --  Los Toros posted 14 hits as they ran over Los Estrellas, who hurt their own cause with 6 errors.  The scoring began with 3 runs in the top of the 1st.  SS Pedro Ciriaco began a rally in the 3rd with a lead-off single.  He scored on a fielding error and a single, and an RBI ground out brought in another run.  A walk, a single, and another error in the 4th made the score 6-0.  Los Estrellas got onto the scoreboard with a solo homer in the 6th, and scored again with two singles in the 7th.  Los Toros kept going, though, scoring 2 runs in the 7th on yet another error, a walk, and a double.  Ciriaco walked in the 8th, and scored on a 3-run homer.  Ciriaco singled in the 6th as well.  Franquelis Osoria pitched the top of the 9th for Los Estrellas, and worked around his teammates' 6th error to keep Los Toros from scoring in that inning.  Los Toros now lead the championship series 4 games to none, and need one more for the series sweep.  

Lots of playoff action in the winter leagues on Friday night:

DOMINICAN LEAGUE
Toros del Este  2,  Estrellas de Oriente  1  -- SS Pedro Ciriaco, who has not been in Los Toros' recent playoff games, started off the scoring in this game.  He singled to lead off the 3rd inning, and moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt.  He stole second base, and scored on an RBI single.  Ciriaco also reached base on an error in the 5th, and made it as far as third base, but did not score.  Los Toros scored again on a walk and two singles in the 7th inning.  Los Toros' starter Fernando Abad pitched 6 no-hit innings, including 6 strikeouts.  The only runner to reach base against him got there on a fielding error in the 6th, and Abad finished the inning with two grounder force outs.  Reliever Jairo Asencio followed Abad with 2 perfect innings.  Los Estrellas' only hit and only run came in the top of the 9th, when reliever Julio Manon gave up a walk and a double, and the runner from third base scored on a wild pitch.  Los Toros have won the first three games of this 9-game series.


PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE 
Leones de Ponce  1,  Criollos de Caguas  0  --   Pitching ruled in the Puerto Rican League also.  Ponce starter Willie Collazo pitched 9 shut-out innings, allowing just 2 singles and 2 walks.  SS Luis Figueroa walked in the 1st inning, and he was Los Criollos' only base runner for the first 6 innings.  Collazo allowed a single and a walk in the 7th, and another single in the 8th.  Los Leones posted 7 hits and had 5 walks, but they fell victim to 4 double plays, and left 8 runners on base.  The only run scored in the 2nd, when the inning opened with a double and two singles.  One of the double plays cut the rally short.  This series is now tied at one game each.  

An update on some recent roster moves by the Pirates:

Pitcher Jose Veras took a few days, but did sign a minor league contract with the Pirates.  Veras is a 30-year-old who was first signed by the Rays in 1998.  He began playing in the US in 2002, and split both the 2003 and 2004 at the AA and AAA levels.  He was granted free agency after 2004 and was signed by the Rangers for 2005, spending that season at the AAA level, where he made 57 relief appearances with a 3.80 ERA.  Veras signed with the Yankees after that, and pitched in their organization for the next 3+ seasons.  He split that time between the AAA level (2.56 ERA in 95 innings, with 115 strikeouts) and the major league club (4.50 ERA in 102 innings, with 94 strikeouts).  The 2008 season was his best of those, with 60 relief appearances for the Yankees and 3.59 ERA and a 5-3 record.  In 2009, the Yankees traded Veras to the Cleveland Indians, where he finished the last 3 months of the season.  The Dominican native made 22 relief appearances for Cleveland with a 1-2 record and a 4.38 ERA, with 22 strikeouts.  He signed with the Marlins for 2010 and began the season in AAA New Orleans.  He began the season slowly, but got better in May and was tough in June:  a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings (10 games) with 12 strikeouts.  That earned him a promotion to the Marlins, where he finished the season with 48 relief appearances.  In 48 innings, he earned a 3-3 record and a 3.75 ERA with 54 strikeouts.  Veras did not play winter ball this off-season.  The righty will be competing for a spot in the Pirates' bullpen

C Wyatt Toregas has also been inked to a minor league contract.  He was the Cleveland Indians' 24th pick in the 2004 draft, and began his pro career in 2005, reaching the AAA level in 3008 and the major leagues in 2009.  Toregas hit .284 for the Columbus Clippers (AAA) in 60 games in 2009, with 7 homers and 69 RBI.  In 19 appearances for the Indians in that season, he hit only.176 with 6 RBI.  The Virginia native was still on the Indians' 40-man roster at the beginning of 2010, but spent the entire season in the minor leagues, possibly battling injuries.  At AA Akron, he got into just 17 games, hitting .203 with one home run and 6 RBI.  At AAA Columbus, he was in just 14 games and hit .200 with 2 homers and 6 RBI.  He has a slim chance of sticking with the Pirates out of spring training, but will more likely be in Indianapolis to begin 2011.

In addition to Veras and Toregas, a few other minor leaguers have been invited to big league camp for spring training:  catchers Tony Sanchez and Eric Fryer, infielders Chase d'Arnaud and Brian Friday, and outfielder Andrew Lambo.