CHICAGO -- Francisco Cervelli lifted his right arm to reveal a baseball-sized welt on the inside of his forearm. The mark was from a hit-by-pitch the previous night — his ninth this season, a career-high — and he was icing the area to prepare for a game in a few hours.
“They all throw hard,” he told me, smiling. “Four times in two weeks. Same spot, too.”
Cervelli missed two games after being hit on that spot during a win over the White Sox last month. He was also stricken with flu-like symptoms in late May, forcing him to miss three games. That’s about all that’s slowed him. The 31-year-old leads National League catchers in multiple offensive categories, putting him in position to represent the Pirates at the All-Star Game in Washington D.C. on July 17.
It took more than a bag of ice, though, to keep Cervelli on the field for a breakthrough in his 11th major-league season.
Cervelli’s workday begins with movements and breathing exercises in the morning, either at home or in a hotel room. He’ll then follow a strict diet given to him by Andres Ayesta, a Tampa-based nutritionist Cervelli hired during the offseason. It’s not unusual for Cervelli’s generation of players to learn the benefits of nutrition in the latter stages of their careers. Unlike Jameson Taillon, who’s had a nutritionist for three years, players such as Cervelli and Ivan Nova were never taught the benefits of a disciplined diet.
“When you’re born in Latin America and Venezuela, nobody tells you about that,” he said. “Your mom cooks, if you eat a plate of pasta she brings another one. When you finally get to the big leagues, you start getting around people that know what they’re doing.”
That’s not all. Cervelli needs eight hours of sleep every night with very few, if any, exceptions. That can be challenging during a 162-game season with night games followed by day games. Yet, Cervelli finds a way. He’s urged the Pirates’ young players, including Elias Diaz, to adopt such a disciplined regimen.
He has their attention. After all, Cervelli’s hit a career-high nine home runs. He surpassed his previous career high of seven — set during his first season with the Pirates in 2015 — in 131 fewer at-bats. He ranks first among NL catchers in RBIs and walks, and second in home runs and OPS.
Clint Hurdle and Neal Huntington said throughout the offseason the Pirates planned to monitor Cervelli’s workload more than in previous years. Cervelli had already been on the disabled list twice at this time last year. He had three more trips to the disabled list, limiting him to 81 games. He played only 101 games in 2016, breaking a bone in his left hand – an injury that lingered throughout 2017.
Cervelli has started 45 of the Pirates’ 62 games, playing four consecutive games on two occasions. Although he’s on pace to play 127 games, the Pirates’ plan of rest for Cervelli hasn’t been as structured as expected because he’s proven capable of being an everyday catcher.
“We’ve worked together on it because if it was left up to him he’d play more,” Hurdle said. “That’s why you’ve got to take it away from him. … I think we’ve been able to regulate and monitor the workload. It’s been aggressive, still for me in some areas.”
Cervelli’s thorough plan hinges upon arriving at the ballpark every day. He’ll do his martial arts movements — which are similar to capoeira and tai chi. The workouts are designed to keep his spine straight and enhance flexibility. He'll then lift weights before readying for the game.
It’s taken a village to get him here. Last fall, he hired a trainer, catching coach and nutritionist. Then, he changed his batting stance to be more upright, thanks to advice from hitting coach Jeff Branson and Sean Rodriguez.
It’s added up to what could be an All-Star season, and his motivation was simple.
“When you think you know everything you’ve got to go home," he said. "I’m still learning. I want to play seven more years, and I want to play every day those seven years. I don’t want to be seen on the bench. I don’t like it. I hate it.”
• Jung Ho Kang didn't seem thrilled when he spoke to a handful of reporters Wednesday in Bradenton, Fla. He answered every question during the 20-minute session; however, he kept his head down throughout and his body language suggested he was growing irritated. Kang didn't say a word following the interview. He quickly walked out of the room to prepare for the game. -- Lysowski
• With the Major League Baseball Draft this week, I approached a few of the Pirates' starters to ask what their arsenal was like as a senior in high school. After all, analysts seem to gush over any breaking pitch thrown by a high schooler. Well, prospects don't care as much about that as the analysts do. "I didn't really mess around with a two-seamer, and I only threw a curveball here and there," one Pirates starter said. "It was mostly heaters. I was just trying to get paid, man." -- Lysowski
• The Pirates' trip through Chicago and Phoenix could represent the end for more than one player on the roster, based on what I was hearing Thursday at PNC Park. Sean Rodriguez is the glaringly obvious odd-man-out once Kang returns, presuming he's still flailing at a .167/.286/.314 pace. Kang almost certainly won't be ready that soon, but Rodriguez won't keep getting chances -- no, really -- if this trip doesn't resuscitate him. And independent of that, Jose Osuna's ripping it up in Indianapolis at .330/.379/.536, so this is getting silly, regardless. Also, in the bullpen, Michael Feliz has been abysmal while Dovydas Neverauskas has a 0.91 WHIP in 17 appearances for Indianapolis. The trip will be even more meaningful for Feliz. -- Dejan Kovacevic
STEELERS
• While Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown were mostly MIA at the Steelers' recently completed OTA sessions, Cam Heyward was at every practice, even though he rarely participated. That's why Heyward is very much respected in that locker room -- not that Roethlisberger and Brown aren't. As one veteran told me, just by being there, Cam shows a presence and talks to the young players about what's expected of them. It's interesting how Heyward has grown into that role. In his rookie season, he fought pretty much every offensive lineman on the team at one point or another by the end of his first training camp and some of the veteran defensive linemen then wondered if he would ever get "it." -- Dale Lolley at Rooney Sports Complex
• It's become obvious watching Steelers practices thus far that the team wants to run its offense at an increased pace this season under first-year offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner. As a team source told me, "If you run an extra four or five plays per game with this offense, that can lead to another score." It makes sense. After all, other teams have done it against the Steelers at times, leading to communication breakdowns. And the Steelers have as much offensive talent as anyone. -- Lolley
• If you listened to or read the comments from Ryan Shazier Wednesday and didn't come away impressed with his outlook on life, you might need to reassess your own outlook on things. Shazier is using his desire to return to football as a driving force in his rehab. The people who continue to say they hope he doesn't return don't get it. It's not about whether he ever plays the game again or not. It's about him wanting to return to what he considers a normal life. And considering he's played football since he was 4 years old, a normal life for him involves football. If that is his goal, who is anyone else to chastise him for it? Especially if that helps him regain the ability to walk and run? If he does return to the field some day, it will be interesting to see who plays him in the movie, because that's what the next step would be. -- Lolley
PENGUINS
• One thing you won't hear the Penguins' management state publicly is their wish to get more authoritative along the boards, particularly up front. For one, it might come across as a jab at some of their smaller wingers. For another, it might give off the impression they're on the lookout for another Ryan Reaves. And neither would be palatable because their priority won't stop being speed. What they covet, above all, is speed. That won't change because Mike Sullivan would never go for it. But what they want additionally are wingers who are strong on the puck along the boards. That's why Sullivan became enamored right away with Zach Aston-Reese, as well as why he trusted Dominik Simon. Both are really strong despite not being huge. If there are players like that available from the outside, Jim Rutherford will be interested. Not guessing at this. -- Kovacevic
• Aside from Aston-Reese and Daniel Sprong, look for the biggest increase in ice time and responsibility to go to Jamie Oleksiak. He'll be pivotal in the plan Rutherford outlined for me earlier this week to more evenly spread the defensive ice time with a specific goal of keeping Kris Letang at manageable minutes. There were times Jacques Martin trusted Oleksiak on the penalty-kill, for example, and times when he didn't. That needs to change. With his size, strength and speed, it's a simple matter of becoming smarter positionally and especially in intercepting lateral passes through the box. Oleksiak needs to blossom into a bona fide No. 4, in management's eyes, and PK is huge within that. -- Kovacevic
• The default mode for the Penguins entering both free agency and the NHL Draft, as Rutherford told me, is status quo. But don't rule out the former. I'm further told that management wants to wait to see how the salary cap unfolds, confident that it can handle existing raises and still have enough to spend afterward ... within reason. Even if the cap rises by what some expect will by a record $6 million-$7 million, that won't present a green light to go wild. Space will be set aside for additional moves at the trade deadline next winter. -- Kovacevic
• Even a move up in the draft -- the Penguins don't pick until the second round -- would need to involve the present, meaning the prospect would have to be able to contribute right away. Meaning someone in the top four or five. Think about that. That's the mindset. It's all about winning now. -- Kovacevic
PITT
• The new start for Pitt basketball is extending all the way to the laundry room. Senior Jared Wilson-Frame has switched jersey numbers from No. 0 to No. 4, the number worn previously by outgoing transfer Ryan Luther. With that move, sophomore forward Shamiel Stevenson grabbed the No. 0 jersey after wearing No. 23 last year. Numbers have yet to be chosen by (or assigned to) the four incoming freshmen. -- Matt Grubba
• Still awaiting their first verbal commitment for the Class of 2019, Pitt football’s month of camps rolls on this weekend with their second day of Rising Stars camp Saturday and their second Senior Elite camp Sunday — when a handful of players already with offers are expected to attend — at the Rooney Sports Complex. Later on Sunday afternoon, they also will host a specialists camp. -- Grubba
• The Zoo Crew, Pitt’s alumni basketball team, was accepted into The Basketball Tournament and will compete for the $2 million prize beginning July 20 in the Midwest Region in Columbus, Ohio. Players currently committed to compete are Levance Fields, Gilbert Brown, Jermaine Dixon, Gary McGhee, Tyrell Biggs and Antonio Graves, as well as a few graduates of other Division I programs who have personal connections to some of the Pitt players. The team will be coached for the second year by Taylor Allderdice High School coach Buddy Valinsky, and Jeff Capel has signed on as a “booster,” yet another way the new Pitt coach is trying to connect with the program’s history. -- Grubba
RIVERHOUNDS
• Center back Joe Greenspan, who has missed two months with a calf injury, was a full participant at practice Wednesday in the team’s last full training session before getting an extended weekend off. Greenspan, who at one point went into a hard, sliding challenge on Kevin Kerr and bounced up looking no worse for wear, confirmed after practice that he should be ready to play June 16 when the Hounds host the New York Red Bulls II. -- Grubba
• Call it another Bob Lilley effect, but intensity has been higher at Hounds practices than in previous years, and sometimes that leads to tempers flaring up. Christiano François and Jordan Dover got into an expletive-laced shouting match during a full-field scrimmage Wednesday, and Lilley had to step in to diffuse the situation. Cooler heads prevailed after François sat out the final 10 minutes of practice, but he rejoined the team during the cool-down period and to hear Lilley’s final comments before ending practice. -- Grubba
• The Hounds’ past two practices were held on one of the completed turf fields at still-under-construction Montour Junction Sports Complex, which straddles the border of Coraopolis and Robinson along Route 51. The move was forced because of Highmark Stadium hosting a concert by California ska/reggae-influenced alternative group Dirty Heads on Tuesday night. -- Grubba