The Pirates lost to the Orioles in a slugfest yesterday in Bradenton.
Joe Block has the story.
Ben Gamel left the game after his home run in the fourth inning to travel to Jacksonville for the birth of his daughter, Delilah Marie, who kindly waited until her dad got there before she was born.
The Bucs are in Lakeland today to play the Tigers, with Wil Crowe getting his second start. They will follow with games against the Phillies, twins, and Orioles. The next radio game is Sunday afternoon against the Yankees.
Pirates pitcher Chris Stratton avoided arbitration yesterday by signing a one-year $2.7 million contract. That leaves only outfielder Bryan Reynolds as arbitration-eligible. He’s projected to make at least $4.5 million after he made $601,000 last year.
The Pirates first roster changes of the season included sending four former first-round draft choices to the minors, including outfielder Travis Swaggerty, who has not played yet this preseason due to a sore left shoulder. Surgery on his right shoulder ended his season last year.
Former top picks Henry Davis, Nick Gonzalez, and Quinn Priester were also sent down, as were highly-touted prospects Liover Peguero, last year’s minor league player of the year Matt Frazier, and pitcher of the year Adrian Florencio, and 11 others.
MLB
Just when you thought baseball would be real baseball again, MLB and the players union agreed yesterday to bring back the ghost runner. An automatic runner will be on second base at the start of extra innings. Also, pitchers who also hit can stay in the game as a designated hitter when they are replaced on the mound. And rosters will be expanded to 28 players through May 1st.
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