Pirates 'here to work' as Summer Camp begins

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates’ preseason training program that began Friday at PNC Park is officially called Summer Camp. Some might say it’s Spring Training 2.0. Manager Derek Shelton has dubbed it “The Deuce,” and that seems to be catching on.

Whatever you call it, the name of this three-week game is something else entirely.

“I think the buzzword of camp is going to be adjustments,” Shelton said Friday afternoon.

The Pirates were reminded of that in the hours before their first official workout. On Thursday, Allegheny County issued an order that prohibits activities or events involving more than 25 people, among other things, for the next week. So Shelton, bench coach Don Kelly, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk and the rest of Pittsburgh’s staff had to adapt once again, by shrinking the size of the team’s workout groups, to make sure they were in compliance with state and local rules.

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They pulled it off, despite the restrictions, as players returned to PNC Park for their first organized team activities since Spring Training was shut down on March 12. Right-hander Joe Musgrove threw a five-inning simulated game. Other pitchers threw bullpen sessions. Position players did defensive drills, ran the bases and took batting practice as Musgrove’s choice of music played in an otherwise empty ballpark.

“Although you can’t see all the time because we have masks on, we’re smiling and we’re having a good time,” shortstop Kevin Newman said. “We’re back playing the game that we love, and we’re back with our teammates, the guys that we love, so just being out there, we’re super excited.”

Some players are still going through the intake screening and COVID-19 testing process, but Shelton said everyone expected to take part in Friday’s workout was there. While several players have elected not to play this season, the Pirates expect to have everyone available and adhering to the league’s detailed health and safety guidelines.

“One of the things we talked about is when we do get up and going, things get back, it’s not going to be anything like we expect it to be. It’s not going to be normal,” Musgrove said. “It’s going to suck a little bit. We’re going to be separated and stuff. But we really put our priority on showing up and doing what we’re told. If you have to wear masks, you have to wear masks. If you have to be separated, you have to be separated. We’re here to work. We’re here to do a job.

“Whatever the guidelines are that we have to meet, we’re going to meet ‘em. Our focus is to get better at baseball every day, not [moan] and complain about all the rules that we have to follow. That’s been our main priority, just focusing on getting our job done.”

As expected, things were different on Friday. Musgrove had to remind himself not to hug and high-five his teammates and coaches. At shortstop, Newman has stopped licking his fingers between pitches. Shelton didn’t recognize special assistant David Eckstein at one point until he took off his mask.

To ensure social distancing, the Pirates spread out their position players in the home clubhouse and moved their pitchers to the visiting side. They’re only using every third or fourth locker. Players always wore face coverings inside and whenever they were within close contact outside.

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With multiple groups working out in one day, players must move around the ballpark to make the most of their limited time on the field. There won’t always be time for an extra round of batting practice, 10 more ground balls or one-on-one work with a specific coach. As Newman put it: “For the most part, we’re getting every single thing that we really do need, not necessarily everything that we want.”

“We don’t have seven weeks where we can lay out a full program and make sure we cover certain things three and four times. Because of the practice requirements and their distancing, there’s going to be certain things we’re only going to be able to go over one or two times,” Shelton said. “Our players have to be very thoughtful, like, ‘OK, we’ve gone over this, but I still feel like I need this to get better, to make sure.’ It’s something we’re going to watch very closely.”

There will be an adjustment period, especially for catchers getting back behind the plate, and it will take time for hitters to regain their timing at the plate. Shelton said most players are in the same kind of shape they left Spring Training in, with some in even better condition, and between the club’s pre-camp workouts and Friday’s first official day, he’s pleased with what he’s seen so far.

“The one thing that I've been really happy with our guys is they've taken to the things we've asked. They've continued to do it,” Shelton said. “I think something that we talked about in Spring Training that really stood out to me with this group was how cohesive they are and how they get along and how they interact with each other. I think they've done a good job in monitoring themselves and policing themselves. ... It's a credit to our group for how they've gone about it."