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CHICAGO -- There were at least two noteworthy absentees from the alternate training site roster the Pirates’ released Saturday.
Cole Tucker and Jared Oliva both have big-league experience and enough time in the minors to warrant a spot. But instead of coming north to get immediate playing time against the closest thing to major-league competition available in April, they stayed back in Florida for “skill development.”
Derek Shelton would not identify what the specific skills being worked on were. But was encouraged by Tucker and Oliva’s involvement in the decision-making process.
“They were part of the discussion,” Shelton said. “We sat down and talked to them about what our thoughts were and laid out a plan, and they were both 100 percent on board with it.”
Although he wouldn’t reveal the plan in detail, Shelton mentioned that they’re beyond the diagnosis stage with the more experienced group in Bradenton. He also expects Tucker and Oliva to join the alternate site at some point in the near future, or at least before the start of the minor league season in May.
“To give you how long they’re going to be there, I can’t give you that because I don’t think we know,” Shelton said.
“There are things that we’ve identified that we want to work on.”
Tucker will continue to work as a shortstop after a brief experiment as an outfielder last season. The issues that kept him off not only the alternate site roster, but also cost him a spot in the opening day lineup are glaring. The 24-year-old batted .220 with a .527 OPS in 109 at-bats last season.
He was going to have to hit his way onto the roster this spring. But he suffered a thumb injury and slumped his way to a .174 average (4-for-23) in the Grapefruit League. Tucker was optioned with a week left of spring on March 24, which was a move that also prompted a conversation and plan of attack.
“He was extremely thoughtful. He had really good questions about his personal growth and things that we identified,” Shelton said during the spring. “Sometimes when you have those conversations, as soon as you tell guys they’re being optioned, they shut off. He was great.”
Oliva was optioned March 22. He bypassed Class AAA to go straight to the majors in the pandemic-shortened season. He too had an incredibly rough spring at the plate, batting .120 (3-for-25), and never really figured into the outfield competition with Dustin Fowler and Brian Goodwin.
• Fowler starts in centerfield over Anthony Alford in Saturday’s game against Jake Arrieta and the Cubs. Fowler recorded a hit and a stolen base in the opener but cost the Pirates a run with a base running blunder in the fourth inning. He’s impressed the coaching staff so far with his aggressive approach at the plate and ability to get out in front of a pitch to pull.
“We’re still getting to learn a little bit, but I think the initial on that is pretty much what you're thinking,” Shelton said.
• Class AAA Indianapolis manager Brian Esposito will run the alternate site at Heinz Field with Class AA Altoona coaches David Newhan and Gary Green and AAA pitching coach Joel Hanrahan. When discussing the alternate site and taxi squad decisions, Shelton again mentioned defensive versatility and an ability to pitch multiple innings.
Todd Frazier, who can pretty much only play first or third base, is at the alternate but not on the taxi squad. Wilmer Difo and the 21-year-old Rodolfo Castro are both on the taxi squad sporting an ability to play at least three infield positions.
Shelton mentioned that, although the club hasn’t yet asked, he feels Castro has the ability to go play an outfield position as well.
“I think as the spring went on, we saw him get more comfortable,” Shelton said. “We saw him have better at-bats, more consistent at-bats. That played into that part of the decision.”
Castro had just three hits in 22 at-bats (.136) but homered twice and drove in six runs this spring.
• Without giving any sense of his opinion regarding MLB’s decision to move the All-Star game and draft out of Atlanta, Shelton made a subtle suggestion for a new potential site.
“I will say that PNC Park is a beautiful ballpark,” he said. “Probably the most beautiful ballpark in baseball. Just throwing that out there.”