That lowered the number of readily available players to 33.
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So, its a matter of making some transfer to include players to the 40-man lineup and whether Shelton prefers to keep more pitchers than position players or to draw it even at 15 of each.
When Shelton exposed Friday that ideal fielder Gregory Polanco tested favorable for covid-19, the Pirates were down to 32. Then backup catcher Luke Maile was lost for the season to surgical treatment on his ideal forefinger, making it 31.
And hes not ready to expose that.
Better Keone Kela, reducer Blake Cederlind and third baseman KeBryan Hayes have yet to practice. And Pirates supervisor Derek Shelton announced Sunday that Hayes, the teams top position prospect, also has checked positive for covid-19.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are down to the final days of training school, with exhibit video games Monday and Wednesday against the Cleveland Indians prior to making final choices on the 30-man Opening Day lineup.
So well play the guessing game.
Pitcher Hector Noesi chose out, and relievers Miguel Del Pozo and Geoff Hartlieb were sent out to the alternate training camp in Altoona. That left the Pirates with 35 players.
Many of the choices were made for them.
Ive been waiting a while to manage a game with that horizon as the background.
Man this location is lovely.
Well do it for genuine here in a couple of days and I cant wait! #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/xQIjl3G6R6
— Derek Shelton (@derekshelton) July 19, 2020
The Pirates started training camp at PNC Park with 39 players, after relief pitcher Edgar Santana was suspended for testing favorable for efficiency improving drugs. With Jameson Taillon out for the season however consisted of in the camp count, they really had 38 players contending for 30 spots.
1. Whos left: The Pirates have Jacob Stallings and John Ryan Murphy at catcher, Josh Bell at first base, Adam Frazier at 2nd base, Kevin Newman at shortstop and Colin Moran at 3rd base, with Phillip Evans, Erik Gonzalez, Jose Osuna, JT Riddle and Cole Tucker capable of playing several positions. The outfield consists of Bryan Reynolds, Jarrod Dyson and Guillermo Heredia and Socrates Brito.
And after that theres JT Brubaker.
The beginning rotation will feature Joe Musgrove, Trevor Williams, Mitch Keller, Derek Holland, with Steven Brault and Chad Kuhl pitching piggyback early on.
The bullpen would include Nick Burdi, Kyle Crick, Robbie Erlin, Michael Feliz, Clay Holmes, Dovydas Neverauskas, Richard Rodriguez, Chris Stratton and Nik Turley.
Chaz Palla|Tribune-Review
Pirates pitcher JT Brubaker deals with his pickoff relocation during practice Monday, July 13, 2020 at PNC Park
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2. Call a taxi: The Pirates are short on catchers and outfielders, so Brubaker might be the odd male out provided that hes being stretched out as a starter.
Where things could get interesting is to see what the Pirates do with their taxi squad.
However, he might work out of the bullpen. Thats what Brubaker will do at Cleveland on Monday night, together with Feliz, Crick, Rodriguez, Stratton and Erlin.
If they bring a third catcher, it will likely be Andrew Susac. If they carry extra position gamers, it could come down to one of the three contacted for Saturdays video game at PNC Park: first baseman Will Craig, shortstop Oneil Cruz and outfielder Jason Martin. It might depend upon which position has the best requirement.
Nothing like @MeLlamoTrevor on the headset from Summer Camp. pic.twitter.com/XD1gSb3GDk.
— Pirates (@Pirates) July 19, 2020.
Pirates basic manager Ben Cherington all but ruled out signing a complimentary representative or making a trade … but that was prior to Mailes injury.
3. Spilled beans: Shelton was set to reveal that Trevor Williams will pitch Monday at Cleveland and after that toss the 2nd game of the opening weekend series on Saturday afternoon at St. Louis.
” Its amusing when I spoke with Trevor and I told him that I was going to lead with the fact that he was going to pitch Game 2, he was like, Yeah, I believe I might have currently stated that,” Shelton said.
Williams shared that news with Greg Brown Saturday night on AT&T SportsNets protection of the exhibition opener.
Pirates mimicing the 10th inning, with Guillermo Heredia at 2nd base, Clay Holmes on the mound and Cole Tucker in center field– with 1B/OF coach Tarrik Brock standing nearby. pic.twitter.com/dAZVCel3KR.
— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) July 19, 2020.
” That was in fact going to be my cool News of the Day. When I told him (Sunday) that I was going to say that to (the media), he was like, OK, I believe that may be already out.”.
One issue: Williams already let it slip.
4. Look at me: Shelton likewise shared what we have enjoyed in practice at PNC Park, that “theres a strong possibility” Tucker will play in the outfield Monday night against Cleveland.
Shelton stated the Pirates will try Tucker at all three outfield spots, and bench coach Don Kelly is impressed by how rapidly Tucker has actually adjusted to playing brand-new positions for the very first time in his career.
Absolutely nothing much better than a game of tag. pic.twitter.com/ysFpywlx3m.
— Pirates (@Pirates) July 19, 2020.
Simply enjoying him move around the outfield, hes going to be terrific out there,” Kelly said, keeping in mind that Tucker showed his versatility by playing 2nd base on Saturday. Just repeating, like, Shortstop is your position. Theres no doubt in my mind that he can play outfield.”.
Over the weekend, the Pirates had the shortstop participating in outfield drills to compensate for Polancos lack and the scarcity at the position. Tucker has worked in right and center, where he and outfield coach Tarrik Brock hung out on Sunday.
5. Rundown: Tucker was the lone fielder in center when the Pirates put reducers Holmes and Turley on the mound and a runner on second base Sunday to practice MLBs brand-new 10th inning rule that starts extra innings with a runner in scoring position.
Whos left: The Pirates have Jacob Stallings and John Ryan Murphy at catcher, Josh Bell at very first base, Adam Frazier at 2nd base, Kevin Newman at shortstop and Colin Moran at 3rd base, with Phillip Evans, Erik Gonzalez, Jose Osuna, JT Riddle and Cole Tucker capable of playing several positions.” We required to mimic it,” Shelton stated. The Pirates also practiced rundowns. An elusive Shelton had the Pirates going back and forth before getting tagged out.
Kevin Gorman is a Tribune-Review personnel writer. You can call Kevin by e-mail at [email protected] or by means of Twitter.
The Pirates likewise practiced rundowns. An elusive Shelton had the Pirates going back and forth prior to getting tagged out.
Classifications:.
Pirates/MLB|Sports.
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” Once we get moving one way, we cant move the other way,” Shelton said. “I discovered that out the difficult way.”.
And Pirates manager Derek Shelton revealed Sunday that Hayes, the teams top position prospect, likewise has checked favorable for covid-19.
” We needed to simulate it,” Shelton said. “It gave our right-handed players some possibility to work on it. It offered our baserunners a long shot to be on it.”.