The Pirates’ full squad does not officially report to spring training until tomorrow. However, that hasn’t stopped new hitting coach Rick Eckstein from already beginning to get to know his pupils.
Almost all the position players had checked in at Pirate City prior to Sunday’s official reporting date. Eckstein has been working with those players on an informal basis during the week after spending much of the winter talking to them on the telephone.
“This has been awesome for me,” Eckstein said Sunday after pitchers and catchers worked out. “I’m starting to develop relationships on a personal level rather than on the phone with most of the guys and they seem very excited. I know I’m excited. I’m looking forward to getting going with the whole group.”
Eckstein and assistant hitting coach Jacob Cruz were hired in November to replace Jeff Branson and Jeff Livesey. That duo was fired at the end of last season when the Pirates finished 19th in the major leagues in runs scored (4.3 a game) and 25th in home runs (157).
“They left a lot of good things here,” Eckstein said. “Now, we just want to try to build upon them.”
• Veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera reported to camp Sunday, a week after signing a minor-league contract. The 34-year-old switch-hitter is expected to compete with Lonnie Chisenhall for playing time in right field while Gregory Polanco recovers from shoulder surgery. Cabrera could also wind up sticking with the Pirates as a reserve once Polanco is activated from the injured list.
“I just want to show my gratitude to this organization to give me the opportunity to continue playing,” Cabrera said. “I’m glad to be here and do what I can to help this team win.”
Cabrera will have a $1.15-million salary if he is placed on the 40-man roster and can earn $850,000 in performance bonuses.
• Chris Archer gets excited over just about anything. So, it is no surprise that the right-hander is happy about being picked to start the home opener April 1 against the Cardinals.
The Pirates acquired Archer from the Rays last July 31 in a trade. He immediately became a fan favorite.
“Yeah, I was surprised. I loved it and I still love it,” Archer said of the warm reception he received in Pittsburgh. “The fans are great and very supportive. I look forward to getting in front of them and showing what I can do, and what we can do as a team.”
Archer started the last four openers for the Rays.
• Ivan Nova figured he would be in the Pirates’ camp this spring while getting set to play out the final season of his three-year, $26-million contract. Instead, the Pirates traded the righty to the White Sox in December.
Nova admitted to reporters at the White Sox’s camp in Glendale, Ariz., that he was blindsided by the deal.
“It's surprising, especially after the type of meeting you have with the organization where you think you're going to stay there one more year, and then you find out they trade you,” Nova said.
Steven Brault, Nick Kingham and Jordan Lyles are competing for Nova’s old job this spring.
• The Pirates are becoming a celebrity magnet as famed ESPN basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale dropped by camp Sunday. He lives in nearby Lakewood Ranch.
Of course, county music legend Garth Brooks has been working out with the Pirates since Monday and will be in camp through Thursday.
