PiratesFest is open to the public for just five hours this year.
However, the most interesting hour Saturday at PNC Park figures to be from 2-3 p.m. That is when a question-and-answer session will be held with Frank Connelly, Neal Huntington and Clint Hurdle.
Fans figure to have questions about the Pirates’ spending this winter – or lack thereof.
Though the Pirates insist they plan to contend this upcoming season, their projected $73-million payroll is the second-lowest in the major leagues behind the Rays’ $60 million. The club has decided to hold the line on salaries following a season in which they finished a surprising 82-79 but also saw season attendance drop by 454,000 from 2016.
The festival begins at noon and admission is free.
While the regularly scheduled autograph sessions are sold out, there will be children’s autograph sessions with current players held throughout the day in the Jim Beam Left Field lounge.
Among the players scheduled to attend are Corey Dickerson, Jameson Taillon, Jung Ho Kang, Josh Bell, Colin Moran, Starling Marte, Steven Brault, Kyle Crick, Jordan Lyles, Lonnie Chisenhall, Erik Gonzalez, Chad Kuhl, Joe Musgrove, Nick Kingham, Mitch Keller and Cole Tucker.
Retired players will be available for autographs in the press conference room throughout the afternoon. That group includes Bill Madlock, Richie Hebner, Al Oliver, John Smiley and Sid Bream.
Further information on the event can be found here.
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