Pittsburgh Pirates News: Team Announces Alternate Training Site Roster

Mar 12, 2021; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates Chase De Jong (76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2021; Bradenton, Florida, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates Chase De Jong (76) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training at LECOM Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Fans now know which players the Pittsburgh Pirates will have at their alternate training site as the 2021 season begins

With the minor league baseball season on hold until early May MLB clubs will once again be utilizing alternate training sites to begin the 2021 season. Saturday morning, the Pittsburgh Pirates announced their alternate training site roster.

Many of the players who will start the season at the alternate training site do not come as a surprise. Most of these players will begin the season at the Triple-A level when the minor season begins. If not, they will be with the Double-A Altoona Curve.

Catchers:

Jason Delay
Christian Kelley
Andrew Susac
Joe Hudson

Infielders:

Ji-hwan Bae
Rodolfo Castro
Will Craig
Oneil Cruz
Wilmer Difo
Todd Frazier
Connor Kaiser

Outfielders:

Brian Goodwin
Troy Stokes Jr.
Hunter Owen
Chris Sharpe
Travis Swaggerty

Pitchers:

Tyler Bashlor
Chase De Jong
Jandel Gustave
Geoff Hartlieb
Max Kranick
Nick Mears
Braden Ogle
James Marvel
Sean Poppen
Blake Weiman
Steven Wright
Shea Spitzbarth
Chasen Shreve
Edgar Santana
Miguel Yajure

Many of these names come as no surprise. De Jong, Stokes Jr. and Castro are three players we recently identified as players who did not make the Opening Day roster who could make an impact the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021. Hartlieb, Weiman, Shreve and Santana are all likely to see time in the Pirate bullpen this season. Additionally, Yajure will find his way into the starting rotation before the end of the season.

One surprise was seeing pitching prospect Cody Bolton left off the list. All signs pointed toward Bolton start the season in the starting rotation at Triple-A with an opportunity to make an impact for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021. While Bolton should still have a great opportunity to do so, seeing him left off the alternate training site roster was a surprise.

Two other major surprises were infielder Cole Tucker and outfielder Jared Oliva. Both players entered the spring competing for an Opening Day roster spot. Tucker is a former first-round pick and top 10 prospect, while Oliva is currently a consensus top 10-12 prospect in the Pirate farm system. Possibly there is an injury issue with these players. Regardless, seeing them left off the alternate training site roster certainly raises ears.

UPDATE:

Saturday afternoon Pirate manager Derek Shelton met with the media about the construction of the alternate training site roster. Shelton informed the media that Tucker and Oliva were left off the roster to develop specific skills back in Bradenton. As for what these skills are, Shelton would not share that with the media. Shelton did also share that both Tucker and Oliva were on board with this decision.

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Seeing Kaiser and Sharpe on the list comes as a bit of a surprise, as is Sharpe. Kaiser has not played above the High-A level while Sharpe has not played above Double-A. Neither are highly rated prospects in the Pirate farm system and the team has plenty of infield and outfield options for the alternate training site. Having them on the roster could be a sign of the Pirates thinking highly of them and wanting them to be working with the organization’s best coaches.