The Pittsburgh Pirates have started to announce the players joining the big-league camp this spring, which includes many of the team's top prospects as well as veterans signed to minor contracts.
Of the prospects seeing action in Bradenton are SS Termarr Johnson, C Henry Davis, RHP Quinn Priester, and 2B Nick Gonzalez highlight the bunch.
Joining them are RHPs Cody Bolton, Jared Jones, Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas, C Carter Bins, 3B Malcom Nunez, SS Andres Alvarez, CF Matt Gorski, RF Chavez Young, and OF Lolo Sanchez.
They'll be competing against a group of MLB veterans who have either been outrighted to the minors or received minor league contracts with an invite to spring training.
That group includes RHPs Tyler Chatwood, Wei-Chieh Huang, Nathan Webb, Juan Minaya, LHPs Angel Perdomo, Daniel Zamora, Rob Zastryzny, C Jason Delay and Tyler Heineman, 2B Chris Owings, 3B Drew Maggi, and LF Miguel Andujar.
But who has the best chance to actually make the team?
Second baseman Chris Owings has spent parts of 10 seasons in the MLB serving effectively as a bench utility man for the 5 teams he's been with, owning a career 2.3 WAR and .239 average. He could be a nice depth piece for the team being able to play both infield and outfield.
Righty Juan Minaya has 6 years of MLB play under his belt out of the bullpen. He had a very down year with the Twins last year, but had posted an ERA under 4.00 in his 3 seasons before that and is more of a low-risk high-reward signing for the Pirates.
Miguel Andujar might be the most interesting case of all the players here. Former top prospect, Rookie of the Year runner up, he was poised to be a cornerstone of the Yankees offense at one point. Injuries and inconsistency at he majors has really derailed the dudes career, but he has always raked in the minor. If he can prove healthy and rake this spring, it could be hard for the Pirates to leave him off the roster.
