Veterans Serving As Mentors While Competing At Alternate Training Site
When you think of the Pittsburgh Pirates alternate training site, the first names that usually come to mind are guys like Oneil Cruz, Travis Swaggerty, and Braeden Ogle. These guys are the future of the Pirates and the ones who will hopefully bring winning back to Pittsburgh. However, among these young guys are a few veterans who are trying to find their way back to the Big Leagues. These guys are mostly Minor League Free Agent signings like Brian Goodwin, Todd Frazier, and Andrew Susac who have been around the league a time or two. While these guys are also trying to make their way back to the Big Leagues, they serve a key role as mentors to these young players trying to make it for the first time.
All four position groups at the alternate training site have a veteran among them to help the young guys. For the pitchers, it is 36-year-old Steven Wright, for the catchers it is Andrew Susac, the infielders have Todd Frazier, and the outfielders get Brian Goodwin. Each of these players has played parts of at least two seasons in the Major Leagues and knows what it takes to handle the grind of the long 162-game schedule. Being at the alternate training site gives them a chance to pass on their experience to the young guys as they themselves prepare for their Major League careers. Today, we look at all four of these veteran's past careers and what they can bring to the table to help the youngsters that make up the Pirates future
Pitchers: Steven Wright
Prior to coming to the Pirates as a Minor League Free Agent this off-season, Steven Wright spent the last seven years with the Boston Red Sox. He bounced around from being in the Minors to being an MLB reliever to an MLB starter, and everywhere in between during those seven years. The secret to Wright being able to stay in the Big Leagues is the use of his knuckleball. It helped him to get named an American League All-Star during the 2016 season when he went 13-6 with a 3.33 ERA in 24 starts with the Red Sox. However, one thing that has plagued Wright throughout his career is a series of off-the-field issues. He was suspended for violating MLB's Domestic Violence policy, and then suffered a series of leg injuries that have kept him off the field over the last couple of seasons with the Red Sox. In his career, he has gone 24-16 with a career 3.86 ERA in 81 games, 44 starts, spanning 347.2 innings of work.
The biggest lesson that Wright can offer to the young Pirates pitchers is how to conduct themselves on and off the field. When he came to the Pirates, Wright acknowledged his dark past in an interview saying, "It's a dark past. It's something I am definitely sorry for, not only for myself but the game of baseball and my family. But we've moved past that." Following that suspension, Wright also had to deal with a series of injuries and a Tommy John surgery from 2017-2019 that kept him off the field. He is now back and healthy with Pittsburgh and is looking to make a comeback. He will try to share his experiences with the younger pitchers and instill in them the strength and perseverance it took for him to get back on the field.
Catchers: Andrew Susac
Out of the four veterans at the Alternate Training site, the only one with actual World Series Experience is catcher Andrew Susac. He served as Buster Posey's backup for the San Francisco Giants during their 2014 World Series run. He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as a back-up with the Giants, but a series of injuries have gone to keep him off the field in recent years. He has played for four teams spanning parts of five seasons and is a career .219 hitter with seven home runs and 35 RBI. He spent all of last season on the Pirates taxi squad but got rewarded with a start in the final game of the year. He went 0-2 but reached base twice with two walks in the game.
The biggest lesson for Andrew Susac to give to these youngsters is what it takes to be on a winning team. Although Susac wasn't the starter for the Giants in 2014, he was on the World Series Championship team and knows what it takes to make it to the big game. None of the players at the alternate training site currently were in the Pirates organization the last time the Pirates made the playoffs. So, they have no idea what it is like being part of a winning organization. However, Susac can be the guy who shows them what it takes to get to the playoffs and how to carry themselves. Winning is going to be an important part of the Pirate's future, and Susac looks to establish a winning culture into these young catchers.
Infielders: Todd Frazier
One of the biggest names that came to the Pirates this off-season was infielder Todd Frazier. It has been a bumpy road for Frazier as he left the Pirates when he didn't make the team and then came back three days later to join the roster. The Pirates got a good look at Frazier early in his career when he was a star for the Cincinnati Reds. Overall, Frazier brings with him 10 years of experience on teams ranging from playoff contenders to destined for last place cellar dwellers. One thing that Frazier has always brought to the table is power, as he has hit double-digit home runs in all but two of those seasons. Over his career, he is a .242 hitter with 218 home runs, and 636 RBI with the Reds, White Sox, Yankees, Mets, and Rangers. He is a two-time all-star and is known as one of the best teammates in the league.
This is the big lesson these players can learn from Todd Frazier, how to be a great teammate. Throughout Spring Training, Frazier was constantly praising his teammates, offering especially high praise for third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. However, his biggest display of how good of a teammate he was came in a game against the New York Yankees. When Jameson Taillon looked over and acknowledged the Pirates dugout, Frazier yelled out "Don't worry, I'll take care of your guys." Frazier knew that Taillon was a big name in the Pirates clubhouse and he wanted to assure him they were in good hands with Frazier. Frazier further showed he was a good sport by heading to the Pirates alternate training site, where he is now mentoring these young up-and-coming Bucs and helping prepare them for the future.
Outfielders Brian Goodwin
Brian Goodwin was a late addition to the 2021 Pittsburgh Pirates, signing a minor league deal on February 11th, 2021. Right from the get-go, he knew he was in a battle for the starting centerfield job with Anthony Alford, and later Dustin Fowler. Goodwin had shown glimpses of power in the past during his time with the Los Angeles Angels but hadn't really been given a full-time shot other than that. He had played parts of five seasons in the MLB and was a career .250 hitter with 42 home runs and 129 RBI. However, he did not have a good spring for the Pirates, hitting just .229 with a home run and six RBI. Four of those six RBI came on one hit, so as a result he got sent down to the alternate training site.
Through this failure comes the lesson that Brian Goodwin can teach to the next-gen Pirates. Even though he didn't make the Opening Day Roster, Goodwin took his assignment with grace and headed to the alternate training site. His lesson will be teaching these guys how to deal with failure. No matter how good of a player you are, you are going to experience failure in your Big League career. Whether that be injuries, ineffectiveness, or just a simple slump it is something every player has to go through. How they respond is the true test of their character and right now these guys are looking up to Goodwin for help. The way he carries himself every day will make an impact on how these young guys will carry themselves. The Pirates are looking for a positive attitude from Goodwin as he tries for a chance at the Big League club later this season.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (5-8) are back in action tonight as they kick off a three-game road series with the Milwaukee Brewers (7-5) tonight at 8:10 pm. JT Brubaker (1-0, 1.93) looks to continue his hot start to the season as he takes the mound against Adrian Houser (1-1, 1.80). You can watch the game on AT&T Sportsnet, listen on 93.7 The Fan, or follow along with us on Twitter at @Buccos_Cove.
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