NewsSalazar ready to step in when needed
Pittsburgh (36-43) at Florida (41-39), 6:10 p.m. ET
Jeff Salazar appeared in 147 games with the Rockies and D-backs from 2006-08. (Dave Arrigo/Pirates)
By Jenifer Langosch / MLB.com
07/02/09 7:13 PM ET
PITTSBURGH -- Not to be lost in the shuffle of all the transactions this past week is outfielder Jeff Salazar, who officially joined the Pirates on Wednesday to take the roster spot that had belonged to Nyjer Morgan. Salazar has spent parts of three seasons in the Majors -- one with Colorado and two in Arizona -- but, like Garrett Jones, was squeezed from competing for a roster spot with the Pirates in Spring Training because of how left-handed-heavy the Pirates' bench was already primed to be. Now, though, the need for an extra center fielder has prompted Salazar's services in Pittsburgh. "He's a talented player," manager John Russell said. "When he came up, he was a pretty highly regarded prospect. He's had his struggles, but I think he's starting to piece it together. [With] what we saw in Triple-A and what we saw in Spring Training, he has a chance to be a really good player for us." Salazar likely won't get too much playing time, with Brandon Moss, Garrett Jones and Delwyn Young expected to take the majority of the corner outfield starts. Obviously, Andrew McCutchen is the everyday center fielder, though Salazar would be available to step in should McCutchen need a day off. An eighth-round pick back in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Salazar signed with the Pirates as a Minor League free agent this past offseason. He had a nice showing this spring and parlayed that into decent results at Triple-A, where he hit .265 with seven doubles, 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 76 games with Indianapolis. However, Salazar arrived on a tear, having gone 10-for-17 in his past four games before being promoted. Unlike a number of the other players that the Pirates have called up recently, Salazar does bring with him some extensive big league experience. He's appeared in 147 Major League games, where he has compiled a .247 career average. "Jeff has been in the Major Leagues, it's nothing new to him," Russell said. "He did a nice job in Triple-A and started swinging the bat very well as of late." Pitching matchupPIT: RHP Charlie Morton (0-1, 4.09 ERA)
Morton has been battling a nagging left hamstring strain that has kept him from making starts with any regularity. The hope now, though, is that the injury is behind him. Showcasing his nasty sinking fastball, Morton breezed through the first three innings of his latest start, only to allow six hits and three runs in his final two innings. The Pirates continue to be cautious with pushing him too deep into games because of the hamstring injury. Morton made three starts against the Marlins last year, during which he allowed 10 earned runs in 15 innings, walking nine and striking out 10. FLA: RHP Chris Volstad (5-7, 4.63 ERA)
Volstad pitched a workmanlike six innings while getting a no-decision against the Rays on Saturday. The 22-year-old right-hander gave up just two runs on five hits in six innings, walking three and striking out five, but he ran his pitch count up and finished throwing 116 (71 for strikes). Since going on a career-long four-game losing streak, Volstad has given up five runs in 12 innings. This will be his first time facing the Pirates. Bucs bits
The international signing period opened on Thursday, and the Pirates have already announced the signings of three Taiwanese players. Outfielder Ping-Hung Chi, 18, right-hander Sheng-Cin Hong, 18, and first baseman Chih-Wei Hsu, 17, will each begin their professional careers at the Major League Baseball Australian Academy. ... The Pirates are in the process of negotiating with a number of other players, though they don't expect most of the signings to be made official for a few more days. ... Indianapolis will be represented by catcher Eric Kratz and right-hander Chris Bootcheck in the upcoming Triple-A All-Star Game. ... Second baseman Freddy Sanchez is expected to be in the lineup on Friday after getting the day off on Thursday. Tickets
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• Saturday: Pirates (Zach Duke, 8-6, 3.13) at Marlins (Andrew Miller, 2-4, 4.45), 6:10 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Pirates (Ross Ohlendorf, 7-6, 4.41) at Marlins (Ricky Nolasco, 5-6, 5.99), 1:10 p.m. ET
• Monday: Pirates (Virgil Vasquez, 1-1, 3.75) at Astros (Mike Hampton, 4-5, 4.44), 8:05 p.m. ET
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
