Pirate City Still Buzzing With Activity

An overwhelming majority of team followers and baseball fans shifted their focus toward nearly three weeks ago, but has remained the vibrant hub of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

Almost as soon as the big leaguers make their way out of the complex to set up shop at the Pirates’ home stadium of the past 43 Grapefruit League seasons, Pirate City is filled with more than 160 minor-league players, managers, coaches and other personnel. After weeks of batting practice, bullpen sessions and fielding drills, they get to enjoy the same rites of spring afforded to those trying to crack Pittsburgh’s Opening Day roster.

Far from a guarded secret amongst those immersed in the game, minor-league spring training presents more than just a suitable alternative to its major-league counterpart. There is no battling for a parking spot since crowds are minimal and fans can gain a perspective of a team’s future by seeing how its minor leaguers fare against another organization’s prospects.

Tuesday marks an off-day for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the first full day for the players who will comprise the rosters of the organization’s teams in the Triple-A International League, Double-A Eastern League, Class-A Advanced Florida State League and the Class-A South Atlantic League. The Bradenton Marauders, who will start their second season in the Florida State League on April 7 against the host Charlotte Stone Crabs, and the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League are scheduled to play their first exhibition games at 1 p.m. at Pirate City against the Toronto Blue Jays’ Class-A affiliates.

The International League’s Indianapolis Indians, Eastern League’s Altoona Curve, the Marauders and the West Virginia Power are slated to play 17 games through April 2. The spring training schedule for the Pirates’ minor leaguers has the Triple-A and Double-A teams playing on the road when the Single-A teams are playing at Pirate City and the Triple-A, and Double-A teams playing at Pirate City when the two Single-A teams are on the road.

The 17-game spring training schedule features five dates against the Toronto Blue Jays’ minor leaguers, six dates against the Philadelphia Phillies’ prospects and six dates against the New York Yankees’ top four minor-league affiliates. The Canadian National Team will continue its preparations for the 2011 Baseball World Cup with a trip to Pirate City on March 22.

All of the Pirates’ minor-league spring training games are slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch.

Getting a chance to see a current major-league player or meet some of the former major leaguers on an organization’s scouting and player development staff are some of the added benefits of attending a minor-league spring training game. Big-league teams have been known to have some of their prospective frontline starting pitchers throw away from prying eyes and test an injured player’s rehabilitation process in minor-league spring training games.

For those players still battling injury or not fortunate enough to be placed on the roster of one of Pittsburgh’s top-four minor league affiliates, extended spring training and games against players from other organization in similar situations will continue at Pirate City. Following the First-Year Major League Baseball Player Draft in June, Pirate City will serve as the primary home of the organization’s team in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.