PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates confirmed on Thursday that they will use Peoples Natural Gas Field in Altoona as their alternate training facility for the upcoming season.

PNG Field is the home ballpark of the Altoona Curve, the Pirates’ Double-A affiliate. It will serve as a secondary training site while the Pirates host their big league training camp at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

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“The Pirates organization is appreciative of the long-standing relationship we have had for over two decades with the Altoona Curve,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement. “The people, proximity, along with the first-class facility, makes Peoples Natural Gas Field an ideal choice to safely host our alternate training site for the upcoming season.”

When camps reopen next week, teams will be allowed to invite up to 60 players, with only those players eligible to play this season. Teams can send up to 20 players who are not on the 40-man roster to their alternate training facility, but the Pirates are hoping to conduct most of their training camp work at PNC Park.

Workout dates and details regarding the roster will be announced in the coming days, according to the Pirates. All clubs must submit a list of 60 players by Sunday; manager Derek Shelton said the Pirates were close to finalizing their roster on Wednesday.

The regular season will begin with 30 players on the active roster, with that total being cut to 28 after two weeks and 26 after four weeks of the season. Players who aren’t on the active roster will work out at PNG Field to remain in game shape.

“The Curve and Pirates have shared a remarkable relationship since 1999,” Altoona Curve general manager Derek Martin said in a statement. “Being chosen as the alternate training facility really reinforces the strength of that relationship. Being 90 miles from PNC Park, Altoona is a great location to allow the Pirates to get a player to Pittsburgh, or wherever they need to get to, quickly and safely.”