{"time":1773319591771,"version":"2.22.2","blocks":[{"id":"mmngp657","type":"video","data":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/485785e1-bc6b-42d6-95f9-771e6696a7d0/mp4","caption":"","autoplay":false,"controls":true,"muted":false,"stretched":true,"width":0,"height":0,"image":{"url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/485785e1-bc6b-42d6-95f9-771e6696a7d0/thumbnail"},"cdn":{"videoId":"485785e1-bc6b-42d6-95f9-771e6696a7d0","libraryId":"372172","collectionId":"30032062-eefd-4041-a355-12ad05bc987b","cdnBaseUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net","mp4Url":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/485785e1-bc6b-42d6-95f9-771e6696a7d0/mp4","thumbnailUrl":"https://us-central1-deweb-519a7.cloudfunctions.net/mediaService-api/videos/485785e1-bc6b-42d6-95f9-771e6696a7d0/thumbnail","previewAnimationUrl":"https://vz-052fc010-b27.b-cdn.net/485785e1-bc6b-42d6-95f9-771e6696a7d0/preview.webp"}}},{"id":"TxuWPss6Y3","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"The Pittsburgh Pirates’ stock of hitters has been so\nthreadbare in recent years that they have had a hard time finding legitimate\nmajor-league players to fill their four bench spots."}},{"id":"LgBKKaX9cx","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"This spring, however, that’s changed. Multiple players are\nmaking strong cases for a reserve spot on the opening-day roster."}},{"id":"k2mo77hm-a","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"“I think if those decisions are harder all the time and we\nstart to think of good players going to Triple-A who are going to be unhappy\nabout it,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington told reporters at his team’s\nspring training camp in Bradenton, Fla. “We're not rooting for them to be\nunhappy, but it's probably a good position for us to be in, if that's the\ncase.”"}},{"id":"5Bbr8dSb0n","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"One player making a good first impression is rookie outfielder\nJhostynxon Garcia, who was acquired from the Boston Red Sox in an offseason\ntrade. “The Password” is hitting .500/.571/.667 with a double, a home run, and\nthree stolen bases in 24 at-bats in the Grapefruit League."}},{"id":"Rxk1opTnE1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Similarly, Garcia’s performance has caught the attention of\nPittsburgh manager Don Kelly."}},{"id":"evvHfrhaZo","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"“I believe that he’s gotten better in swing decisions,” Kelly\ntold reporters in Bradenton. “Something that he targeted coming in, that he’s\ndone a really good job of battling with two strikes, trying to eliminate as\nmuch chase outside of the strike zone. He’s done that this camp, and I think\nthat, along with the outfield defense, is something that has stood out.”"}},{"id":"SAvsrTNYpn","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"After brief stints with the Pirates over the past two seasons,\nrookie infielder/outfielder Nick Yorke is hoping to make the team out of spring\ntraining. Yorke is currently hitting .269/.345/.462 in 26 at-bats, with a\ntriple, a homer, and two steals."}},{"id":"327Z1nImHD","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Yorke underscored his intentions at last season’s end, making\nit clear he would arrive in Bradenton with purpose this spring."}},{"id":"-d8VSPCI_A","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"“Nick Yorke is someone who stated his case, saying in his exit\nmeeting,” Cherington said. “He said his goal was to walk away, making your\ndecision really hard this season.”"}},{"id":"kT9N1FzYeR","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Switch-hitting outfielder Jake Mangum, acquired from the Tampa\nBay Rays in December, was expected to make the team and has strengthened his\ncase by hitting .320/.370/.440 over 25 at-bats with a double, a triple, two\nsteals, and outstanding defense."}},{"id":"q0MMOgM0Fl","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Two players have reestablished themselves this spring: Billy\nCook (.300/.481/.550, 2 doubles, 1 HR in 20 AB) and Alika Williams\n(.263/.333/.474, 1 double, 1 HR in 19 AB)."}},{"id":"0n_9sRlXox","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Last season, Cook received just six at-bats with Pittsburgh\ndue to injuries. Williams, after playing 83 games with the Pirates across 2023\nand 2024, spent all of last year at Triple-A Indianapolis."}},{"id":"3x8cszqv4c","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"A new player to the competition is infielder/outfielder Tyler Callihan, who Pittsburgh got in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds last week."}},{"id":"xC7jiZ365H","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"“Generally speaking, we know that we're going to have\ndifficult decisions to make,” Cherington said. “We want people to be making\nthose decisions hard for us, certainly. Part of our goal this offseason was not\njust to add the more proven bats, but really to create more depth, more\ncompetition inside that group where there's fighting for jobs, fighting for\nopportunities.”"}},{"id":"LAJ5cY6jm1","type":"paragraph","data":{"text":"Pirates Roundtable also offers a fan community and\nmessage board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pirates. Click\nthe “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free."}}]}

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