Hayes' Houston homecoming a special moment

HOUSTON -- The Pirates’ trip to Houston was special for a number of players, including Ke'Bryan Hayes, who was born and raised in the Bayou City.

Hayes, the club's No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, is the son of Charlie Hayes, who played 14 seasons in the big leagues. Ke'Bryan said before the first of two exhibitions in Houston on Monday that he had always dreamed about one day playing at Minute Maid Park.

As a youngster, Hayes often accompanied his dad to the ballpark for visits with some of Charlie's buddies as they came through town -- especially Dusty Baker, who was on many trips to Houston as the manager of the Giants, Cubs and Reds over the course of Ke'Bryan's childhood.

The younger Hayes, who singled off Cy Sneed to lead off the ninth inning of Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Astros, will begin his season at Triple-A Indianapolis. The series in Houston brought out a big cheering section for the 22-year-old prospect, including a brother who has never seen him play professionally.

"I'm sure a lot of my friends will be here, too," Hayes said Monday.

Musgrove 'homecoming'

Joe Musgrove had his final spring tuneup in a Minor League setting in Florida on Monday, but he asked specifically to pitch in a morning game, so that he could make it to Houston in time for the Pirates' exhibition with the Astros at Minute Maid Park that night.

Musgrove, one of the key components to the January 2018 trade that sent ace right-hander Gerrit Cole to the Astros, was looking forward to catching up with old teammates, with whom he won a World Series the prior season.

The last time Musgrove was at Minute Maid Park, he unknowingly was in his final hours as a member of the Astros. He had just finished a full day of FanFest activities that included a kids-only autograph session and other player-related events. He left for the airport with fellow Californians Chris Devenski, Max Stassi and James Hoyt, and just as they were about to board the plane, he received a call from general manager Jeff Luhnow that he had been traded to the Pirates.

"Trades are part of the business, but at the time, following the World Series and the excitement ... it's so fresh in my mind," Musgrove said. "It was kind of tough to swallow at first."

Injuries shortened Musgrove's first season with the Bucs last year, but he appears to be fully healthy and ready to open the season in the Pirates' rotation. He's slated to make his first regular-season start on Sunday in Cincinnati.

"I'm excited," he said. "That first start of the year there's always anticipation and anxiety building up to it. After you get on the mound and the first couple pitches are out of the way, you feel right at home."

Injury updates

Prior to Tuesday’s exhibition finale in Houston, the Pirates provided health updates for several of their key players:

• Lonnie Chisenhall’s status for Opening Day is uncertain after he was plunked on the right hand by a Framber Valdez pitch on Monday.

"We'll see how it responds over the next 24 hours as we prepare for Opening Day," Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said. "We are optimistic at this point that we shouldn't have too many restrictions, but we still are early in the process."

• José Osuna's status is more definitive -- he will not be ready to play in time for the season opener. The infielder returned to Pittsburgh on Monday to be examined for lower neck discomfort.

• Outfielder Gregory Polanco, recovering from left shoulder surgery, played in five innings in a Minor League game in Bradenton on Sunday and was slated for five more in a Triple-A game Tuesday. He responded well in his first game, reporting overall normal body soreness but nothing specific to his left shoulder.

Up next

The Pirates turn to Jameson Taillon for Opening Day on Thursday, when they will head to Cincinnati to take on the Reds at 4:10 p.m. ET.