BRADENTON, Fla. — Francisco Cervelli doesn't want to get excited about his production so far this spring, although he's had much to celebrate.
The Pirates' 32-year-old catcher has now homered in back-to-back games after he hit a solo shot in the Pirates' 13-5 victory over the Twins at LECOM Park on Saturday, giving him eight hits in his last 13 at-bats.
However, Cervelli is excited about his health. A new gluten- and dairy-free diet, as well as an offseason practicing martial arts, has him feeling flexible and athletic, but his singular focus is producing in the season, rather than spring training.
"It feels better and better," Cervelli said afterward. "I really don’t get too excited about those homers. I prefer to do it during the season. But when you see positive things it makes you feel good. ... I feel like a little kid again."
Cervelli homered in the first inning against the Twins — one of the Pirates' 13 hits — and singled in the club's nine-run fourth inning. He's had multiple hits in three of his last five games while splitting starts with Elias Diaz. He's batting .400 this spring and has four doubles in his past five games.
For Cervelli, though, health is the key.
After playing a career-high 130 games in the Pirates’ 98-win season in 2015, Cervelli was limited to 101 games in 2016 and played in only 81 last season. The problems began when he broke the hamate bone in his left hand in 2016. Doctors expressed confidence that surgery would correct the problem, but the injury continued to bother him in 2017.
Cervelli’s four stints on the disabled list last season were the results of a concussion, left wrist inflammation and left quadriceps irritation — which led to him having a cyst removed — but it was his hand that bothered him the most.
As a result, he batted just .249/.342/.370 with a below-average OPS+ and only 31 RBI in 2017. Cervelli also registered a negative-3.8 fWAR on offense. So, Cervelli hired a new trainer who recommended capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that can improve agility, balance, coordination, flexibility and mobility, and Cervelli changed his diet.
With opening day less than two weeks away, Clint Hurdle said this is the best Cervelli has looked since the Pirates acquired him from the Yankees in November 2014.
"This for me is the best I’ve seen him move since we’ve had him," Hurdle said. "The first year we got him he was very athletic. He’s more athletic right now. He’s lighter on his feet. Another guy in the box there’s been the swing force, the connection. … We’ve seen some things early that we haven't seen in the past. Really like the way he’s shown up and the attitude he’s bringing to the lineup and what he’s sharing when he’s not."
Hurdle also pointed to Cervelli's impact behind the plate. Cervelli had seven passed balls last season and Pirates pitchers had a 4.27 ERA when he was behind the plate. But he has looked more flexible behind the plate this spring, according to Hurdle.
Although the Pirates will likely use Diaz more than a typical backup catcher, Cervelli is trying to show that his work during the offseason has put an end to what's kept him off the field.
"I try to put in the right gas for my car because I am a Ferrari, so I want to treat my car the right way," he said with a smile.
• Chad Kuhl, making his fourth start this spring, allowed three runs on five hits in 4 1/3 innings against the Twins. Although his ERA is 11.45 in 11 innings, Kuhl was able to effectively use his changeup on Sunday, which compensated for his shoddy four-seam fastball command.
The right-hander added that pitch last season to complement his four-seam fastball and sinker, which proved to be useful against left-handed hitters. Kuhl, who said he was suffering from flu-like symptoms when he allowed eight runs last weekend, entered this start with a plan to mix in more changeups to prepare himself for the season.
"It was a mix of it today because we're working on different signs, changing up the signs, and felt like we should work on rhythm," Kuhl said. "Looking for opportunities to get the changeup. These last two or three or however many starts I get will be competitive now."
• Left-handed relief pitcher Kevin Siegrist, who signed a minor-league contract with the club last month, pitched another scoreless inning, striking out two in the win. Siegrist allowed a pair of singles before recording three consecutive outs, including a pair of strikeouts.
Siegrist now has seven strikeouts in three scoreless innings this spring.
Brett McKinney, Edgar Santana, Logan Sendelbach and Tyler Jones also pitched for the Pirates.
• The Pirates had 14 batters go to the plate in a nine-run fourth inning that lasted more than 30 minutes. Jordan Luplow hit a two-run homer and RBI double, David Freese added a two-run double and Jose Osuna had a two-run single. Sean Rodriguez scored twice, and also hit a solo home run in the sixth.
Each of the Pirates' eight starting position players had at least one hit. Luplow, Osuna, Rodriguez and Cervelli each had two hits apiece.
• Felipe Rivero made a one-inning start in a minor-league game at Pirate City on Friday and expressed confidence to our site that he discovered why he has struggled so far this spring.
• Right-handed starting pitcher Tyler Eppler, who appeared in 27 games at Triple-A last season, was reassigned to minor league camp Saturday morning. Eppler allowed three solo home runs in the win on Friday and finished the spring with a 8.00 ERA in nine innings.
• Double-A Altoona Curve players and coaches were honored with a ring ceremony before first pitch for winning the Eastern League championship. Additionally, the Pirates announced they extended their player development contract with Altoona for four years, through 2022.
• Here's Hurdle's lineup for the game:
1. Adam Frazier, 2B
2. Francisco Cervelli, C
3. David Freese, 3B
4. Jose Osuna, 1B
5. Sean Rodriguez, SS
6. Jordan Luplow, LF
7. Bryce Brentz, RF
8. Todd Cunningham, CF
9. Chad Kuhl, P
• The Pirates will play a pair of split-squad games on Sunday, with Tyler Glasnow starting against the Red Sox at LECOM Park and Steven Brault taking the mound against the Blue Jays at Dunedin Stadium. Dovydas Neverauskas, Kyle Crick and top prospect Mitch Keller will also pitch in Bradenton. Richard Rodriguez, Jordan Milbrath and Taylor Hearn, the left-handed starter acquired along with Rivero from the Nationals, will pitch in relief in Dunedin.
