The Pittsburgh Pirates hired Brent Strom to be their assistant pitching coach, as reported by Noah Hiles of the Post-Gazette. Strom is a highly regarded pitching coach, who has spent time with Houston and Arizona over...
The Pittsburgh Pirates have hired Matt Hague to be their next hitting coach, according to Scott Mitchell of CSN. Hague was the assistant hitting coach for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2024, after three years as...
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.
Two pitching acquisitions for the Pirates at the winter meetings, though both should remain at the major league level, with no impact on the minor league part of the organization: RHP Kevin Correia is a 30-year old San Diego native, who came up through the Giants' organization, but pitched for his home-town Padres for the past two seasons. In 61 games (all but 2 were starts) for the Padres, he earned a 22-21 record and 4.54 ERA. In 343 innings, he allowed 346 hits and walked 128 batters, while striking out 256. LHP Scott Olsen will turn 27 next month. The Michigan native came up in the Marlins' organization and was traded to the Nationals at the end of 2008. He has spent a lot of the past two seasons on the DL with left shoulder issues, so that over those two seasons he made only 28 appearances (2 in relief) for the Nats. He has a 6-12 record and a 5.79 ERA in those games. In 143 innings at the major league level, he allowed 176 hits and 52 walks, and struck out 95.
Other news: Former Pirate farmhand RHP Jimmy Barthmaier signed a minor league contract to return to the Nationals. Former Pirate INF Ty Wigginton is signing a contract with the Rockies.
Just a little bit of winter league action on Tuesday, involving Pirates' players and friends:
DOMINICAN LEAGUE Aguilas Cibaenas 3, Leones del Escogido 2 -- Los Aguilas scored 2 runs in the 4th inning, and that gave them all the runs they needed. Indy Indians' Kevin Melillo, in his first game with Los Aguilas, started the rally with a double, then scored on a 2-run homer. He went 1-for-3 in the game. Starling Marte came into the game as a pinch-hitter and remained in to play center field. Marte struck out in both of his at-bats.
Tigres del Licey 3, Toros del Este 0 -- Los Tigres scored all of their runs in the top of the 5th. Indy area native LF/1B Jake Fox led off with a double, then 3B Andy Marte moved Fox to third with a sacrifice bunt. After a walk, a double plated Fox. Another single brought in the second run, and a sacrifice fly added the third run. DH Ronny Paulino went 0-for-4 for Los Tigres. SS Pedro Ciriaco singled for Los Toros in the bottom of the 8th, but was erased with a double play.
VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Aguilas de Zulia 5, Navegantes del Magallanes 4 -- This game was tied at 2-2 going into the top of the 7th. A single, a sacrifice bunt, and an intentional walk gave Los Aguilas two on and one out. A grounder produced a force out at second base and gave Zulia runners on the corners. Los Navegantes' Corey Hamman was brought in to get the last out of the inning. The only batter he faced lifted a fly ball into center field, but the ball was misplayed, and the error allowed 2 runs to score. Hamman was relieved, and a strikeout ended the inning, with Los Aguilas ahead 4-2. Los Navegantes tied the score again in the bottom of the 9th, on a walk, two singles, and an RBI ground out, sending the game into extra innings. Jean Machi came in to pitch for Los Navegantes, and he gave up the go-ahead run on a walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a single. Two walks in the bottom of the inning gave Los Navegantes one more chance to catch up, but a double play ended the inning without a run scoring.
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