Three observations from the Pirates' 5-2 win over the Braves here tonight at LECOM Park: 

• Alika Williams continued his silently productive spring by collecting two hits, including a two-run single in a five-run eighth inning, in this one. Williams hasn't hit much in his brief big-league experience and hasn't played in the majors since 2024. But perhaps he's making a case to start the year with the big-league club? Williams is known for his defense and could provide some value as a backup, glove-first shortstop. Any offensive production coming off the bench would be a plus. 

• Williams gets a second bullet because he's really the only guy who hit anything tonight. Plus, he celebrated his 27th birthday today. He's now collected seven hits, including his first homer in a Pirates uniform, in 21 at-bats this spring. A lot of that success has to do with an adjustment he made halfway through the season last year. He lowered his hands in the same way Brandon Lowe does, and it's helped him get into a better position to hit. He's maintained that adjustment throughout the spring and could benefit from sticking to it, whether he makes the team or not. 

• It was interesting to hear Spencer Horwitz's perspective on his experience playing for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, especially when comparing this particular opportunity to the one he had back in 2023 when he had still yet to make his major-league debut. Horwitz described the nerves associated with participating back then. This time around, though, he tried to help the younger guys through the same experience. Horwitz isn't a veteran by any means, but his experience did seem to hold some value in that setting.