Alternate Training Site Looks Different In April, Offers Same Training Opportunities

While the Major League season is fully underway, for the Pirates Minor Leaguers another month awaits before their season starts. They will be at the Pirates alternate training site for the month of April with some similarities and differences from years past.

Even though baseball is back and playing a full 162-game season, the pandemic still rages on across the country. Because of this MLB decided to delay the Minor League season one month, pushing back the start of games from April 4th to May 4th. The only level this truly affects is Triple-A, but it also means the return of alternate training sites for teams around the league during the first month of the season. Players who didn't make the Major League roster, but were in Big League camp will report to these sites where they can get their work in while they await the start of true games. Essentially, it is an extended Spring Training for the guys until the start of the Minor League season.

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, things will look a little different in 2021 from the players at the site to the places that they are playing. One thing that hasn't changed, however, is the man running the show. Triple-A manager Brian Esposito will be running the camp and making sure that everyone is getting their work in. He will have a true mix of players this season from wily veterans, like Todd Frazier, and rookies looking to make their mark, like Ji-Hwan Bae. While some of these guys are still a couple of years away from making the Major League club, others are looking to make their mark sometime during the 2021 season. It is a challenge to keep all the players ready to go, but it is one that Esposito and his coaching staff are looking to accomplish while the Minor Leagues wait to begin.

The Difference from 2020 to 2021

When you look at the Pirates 2021 alternate training site, there are a lot of differences from how camp looked a year ago. The most obvious change is the location of the camp, moving from Altoona, PA. to Pittsburgh this season. The camp will be at three different locations throughout the month of April depending on where the Pirates are. When the team is on the road, activities will be happening at PNC Park. However, when the team comes home, the alternate site players will be at two different locations. All players will have a locker at Heinz Field and some workouts will be conducted there. However, when a baseball field is required, the team will head to Charles L. Cost field, home of the Pittsburgh Panthers, for workouts 

One of the other things that has changed is the look of the alternate training site roster itself. When comparing it to last season's roster, there are 25 different players who were a part of last year's alternate training site that are not part of this year's alternate training site. Gone from last year's roster are guys like JT Riddle, Jose Osuna, and the fan favorite Miguel Del Pozo (had to be funny there). However, in their place come guys like Todd Frazier, Chase De Jong, and Chris Sharpe. The roster is also a lot smaller than last year, with 40 men reporting during the 2020 season and only 30 players reporting to the alternate site this season. The smaller camp will allow more work and attention for each player as they get ready for live games next month.

However, the biggest change to the alternate training site is the fact that the MLB is allowing games to be played. Alternate site teams in Pennsylvania (which include the Pirates, Phillies, and Yankees) are allowed to play alternate training teams from Ohio (Indians and Tigers) and Kentucky (Reds). This allows the players to still get live ball action without having to rely solely on facing live batting practice. It gives them that real-game feel by giving them a chance to play a team in a different jersey. These games will essentially be an extension of the Spring Training games and can help keep the players in shape. The Pirates have not announced how many, if any, of these alternate site games the team will play, but it is an added aspect of this year's alternate training site.

Keeping the Competitive Spirit Alive

The big key to the alternate training site this season is making sure the players are ready for live games. There is a guarantee that these players will be able to play games this season, with the Minor League year set to begin on May 4th. So, for these players, this is basically an extension of the Spring Training camp down in Florida, just moved north to Pittsburgh. With games not being a huge part of these camps, it will be important for both the batters and the pitchers to keep the competitive spirit alive. While there may not be a whole lot of actual games, you can still stay competitive through drills and live batting practice sessions. It is imperative that this competitive spirit stay alive, as there are spots to be one both in Triple-A and on the Big League club.

Some of the guys currently at the alternate site fighting for a Big League job are Todd Frazier and Wilmer Difo. Both are veteran guys who had decent showings in Spring but just didn't make the cut with their new team. For Frazier, he brings power with him and a veteran presence after hitting .250 in Spring Training with 3 HR and 6 RBI. For Difo, he is a utility infielder trying to get back on his feet, and he also had a decent spring. He ended the spring hitting .252 with two home runs and eight RBI, and brings with him incredible versatility to play both the infield and the outfield. These two can serve as an example for the rest of the young players in camp as they get ready for the season.

As a hitter, your competition comes in the batting cages with your teammates. Normally, the teams are separated into groups, and the competition between the young guys should be happening here. Everyone is trying to stand out in hopes of earning a spot on either the Big League or Triple-A roster, and it is here where you can make that impression. Sure it isn't like hitting in a high-pressure game situation, but it allows you to tinker with your mechanics and make adjustments that you then can use in those game situations. Mix that with the game schedule that was just released for the alternate training are, and these players should be game-ready at the start of the 2021 Minor League season.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (1-1) play the rubber match of their three-game series with the Chicago Cubs (1-1) on Sunday at 2:20. Mitch Keller (0-0, -.--) looks to shake off the rust of Spring Training in his regular-season debut against Zach Davies (0-0, -.--), who will be making his Cubs debut. You can watch the game on AT&T Sportsnet or Listen on 93.7 The Fan.

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