Mears rising to challenge in elevated role

LOS ANGELES -- Having pitched just 15 1/3 innings in the Majors, rookie Nick Mears has found himself in a role that he didn’t think would come so early in his career.

Mears has been used as one of the Pirates’ high-leverage arms out of the bullpen and has found success in that role.

The 24-year-old has stranded each of his last five inherited runners since Aug. 1, which has included successfully working out of bases-loaded jams against Cardinals slugger Paul Goldschmidt and, most recently, against the Dodgers during Pittsburgh’s 2-1 loss to Los Angeles.

Mears said he didn’t think he'd find himself in a high-leverage role this soon, but filling that role has been rewarding.

“I feel as though I'm ready for it and I've prepared the last few years in pro ball for it,” Mears said. “It's really cool to see my efforts and my work come to fruition for me to be in a role like that.”

On the season, the rookie right-hander has a 4.35 ERA in 10 1/3 innings after pitching just five innings in the Majors last season.

Despite Mears' limited experience, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Mears has shown growth and the capability to pitch in high-leverage spots.

“That is a big spot for a young kid,” Shelton said on Monday night. “Like we’ve talked about, because of the fact that our bullpen has changed, different guys are going to get different opportunities. … We felt like that was a really good matchup. Nick did a really good job. That’s twice in the last week where he’s come in in big spots and done a really nice job.”

Park’s early impressions
Through his first 14 games with the Pirates, Hoy Park has made an impression on Shelton.

Although Park has slashed .245/.288/.388, it’s his ability to play multiple positions that has shown the Pirates’ skipper the value Park can bring.

“He’s done a nice job for us,” Shelton said. “We’ve put Hoy in some challenging situations. Coming into the big leagues, he hasn’t played a lot of outfield. We played him at all three outfield positions. Normally when guys come to the big leagues, they play one. We’ve bounced him around. … He’s done a nice job. He likes to learn, continues to ask questions. We like the way the at-bats go. He’s a kid that’s just learning, and there is some room for growth there, but I really like his versatility.”

Since acquired in a trade with the Yankees on July 26, Park has played all three outfield positions and both middle infield spots.

Vázquez sentenced
Former Pirates reliever Felipe Vázquez was sentenced Tuesday to two to four years in prison after being found guilty of statutory sexual assault, among other charges. Having served nearly two years in jail, Vázquez will be eligible for a parole hearing one month after arriving in prison, according to a report from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Vázquez was found guilty in May by a Westmoreland County, Pa., jury of other charges that included unlawful contact or communication with a minor, indecent assault and corruption of a minor.