Kang highlights Bucs to watch this spring

BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates packed up and moved from Pirate City to LECOM Park on Friday afternoon. Let the games begin.

Pittsburgh will open its Grapefruit League schedule on Saturday afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. ET game against Andrew McCutchen and the Phillies at Spectrum Field in Clearwater, Fla. Left-hander Steven Brault will start the opener. Clay Holmes, Michael Feliz, Brandon Maurer, Aaron Slegers and Geoff Hartlieb are also scheduled to pitch.

The results may not matter, but many players’ performances will. The Pirates have ongoing position battles at third base and shortstop, at the back of their rotation and the front of their bullpen, as well as on the bench. They have prospects in camp who could make an impact later this year, like Ke’Bryan Hayes and Cole Tucker, and a good showing in Spring Training won’t hurt their stock.

Here are a handful of players to keep a close eye on as games get underway this weekend.

Jung Ho KangJung Ho Kang, 3B: Kang reported in outstanding physical condition, better than he looked in 2016 after recovering from major knee surgery. But after missing nearly two full seasons, how will he handle the speed of the game? There’s only so much you can learn from drill work and batting practice. Kang has the kind of ability that would significantly improve the Pirates’ lineup, but he must prove himself or Colin Moran will keep the job.

Erik GonzálezErik González, SS: The Pirates are betting heavily on Gonzalez and/or Kevin Newman at shortstop, and comments from management seem to indicate that Gonzalez has the inside track. Will his defense be as slick as advertised? Will he show more offensive potential than his .263/.292/.389 slash line in the Majors would indicate? Could Newman bump Gonzalez to a utility role with a strong spring?

Josh BellJosh Bell, 1B: This is your annual reminder that Spring Training statistics are deceiving. Last spring, Bell went 15-for-51 with four doubles and four homers. His .294/.351/.608 slash line in the Grapefruit League didn’t exactly carry over to the regular season, though, when he hit only 12 homers with a .411 slugging percentage. He remains encouraged by his strong September and seems intent on sticking with that approach while working with new hitting coaches Rick Eckstein and Jacob Cruz. It’s a big year for Bell, and it starts now.

Lonnie ChisenhallLonnie Chisenhall, RF: Chisenhall could be a solid replacement for the rehabbing Gregory Polanco, whose progress is also worth watching this spring. The key is health. Chisenhall took a massive step forward when he was healthy enough to hit the past two years, but he was sidelined most of last season due to calf injuries. If he’s healthy, he could be a quietly effective offseason addition.

Mitch Keller, RHP: Not to say Keller’s Grapefruit League debut was a big deal last year, but reporters carpooled across town from LECOM Park to Minor League camp just to talk to him about his scoreless two-inning outing. Pittsburgh’s top prospect won’t be riding the van from Pirate City anymore. He’ll have a chance to show his stuff with an eye on a midseason Major League debut. Unless general manager Neal Huntington makes another surprise move like he did for Chris Archer and Keone Kela, Keller and Polanco might be the Pirates’ most meaningful additions during the season.

Jordan LylesJordan Lyles, RHP: The veteran right-hander looks like the early favorite to claim the fifth spot in the rotation, although there will be a competition with Nick Kingham and Brault. The Pirates have talked about “bridging the gap” between Lyles’ potential and performance, so it’s worth monitoring how he evolves as the spring goes on.

Archer and Joe MusgroveJoe Musgrove: The Pirates’ top four starters -- Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams, Musgrove and Archer – could spend more time than usual this spring pitching in Minor League or simulated games as they prepare for the regular season. Archer and Musgrove are both coming off offseason surgery, but they’re currently on track for Opening Day. The Pirates will need them to be healthy and effective to round out a deep rotation this season.

Nick BurdiNick Burdi, RHP: Burdi recovered from Tommy John surgery last season and made his big league debut in September, but he’s not in the clear yet. The Pirates would have to put Burdi in their Opening Day bullpen and carry him for two months in order to eliminate his Rule 5 Draft restrictions and option him to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he could more properly develop. The Bucs could simply give Burdi a spot, taking a chance on his high-octane stuff, but they’d rather see him earn one.

Francisco LirianoFrancisco Liriano, Tyler LyonsTyler Lyons and Maurer: They boast a ton of experience and upside for a trio of non-roster relievers. Liriano still possesses the stuff to dominate lefties. Lyons was a quality reliever as recently as 2017. Maurer has closing experience, and he posted a FIP below 4.00 every year from 2014-17. Who will step up and claim a spot in the bullpen? How will the Pirates weigh their potential against the risk of losing them?

Pablo ReyesPablo Reyes, UTL: Reyes was a bright spot last September, coming up as an unheralded prospect and slashing .293/.349/.483 in 18 games. He has a chance to make the club in a super-utility role, so he’ll have to show he’s capable of handling the outfield and especially shortstop. The addition of Melky Cabrera might bump him off the roster, but Reyes could help his cause by showing up well defensively and continuing to hit like he did in September.