LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Travis Swaggerty had never been to Walt Disney World, so he was feeling a little jealous of his fiancée, Peyton, as the Pirates’ buses rolled into the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex on Monday morning.

Well, not really. While Peyton was enjoying Disney’s theme parks, Swaggerty stood on the top step of the visitors' dugout at Champion Stadium.

“I think I’d rather be here,” he said, grinning.

Swaggerty joined the Pirates’ travel squad, played two innings in center field and flied out in his only at-bat during their 6-2 loss to the Braves. Swaggerty, the 10th overall pick in last year’s Draft, was called over from Minor League camp to play in a split-squad game on March 1, but Monday was his first spring game with the full big league staff.

“It’s definitely surreal. These Spring Training parks are awesome. It’s not quite the real thing, but it’s a little taste of it,” Swaggerty said. “It’s a really cool experience picking these guys’ brains and talking to them. It’s really fun.”

Seeing young players like Swaggerty is one of manager Clint Hurdle’s favorite parts of Spring Training. Hurdle met Swaggerty last season at PNC Park, when Swaggerty officially signed with the Pirates, and he watched video of Pittsburgh’s No. 3 prospect late last year. They sat and chatted in the dugout before batting practice on Monday.

“It’s fun,” Hurdle said. “Those are the fun moments, the fun snapshots you can be a part of with our development program and the players that are within it.”

It was on display, in a way, during Monday’s game. The Pirates’ travel squad included their first-round Draft picks from 2014 (Cole Tucker), ’15 (Kevin Newman and Ke’Bryan Hayes), ’16 (Will Craig) and ’18 (Swaggerty). Newman had never met Swaggerty, so he made a point to introduce himself before the Bucs’ pregame stretch.

“It seemed like he was excited. I definitely remember that feeling, the first time being here and coming up and seeing the guys on the Major League team,” Newman said. “It’s a little overwhelming, but it’s pretty cool to go out there and see hopefully what your future holds and where you’re going to be in a couple years.”

Swaggerty, 21, isn’t quite as close to the Majors as the former first-rounders with whom he posed for a photo on Monday. He ran out to center in the seventh inning wearing a No. 81 jersey without a name on the back. Swaggerty could move quickly through the system, but he will likely start this season with Class A Advanced Bradenton.

Last year was a whirlwind for Swaggerty. He finished his junior season at the University of South Alabama, heard his name called live while attending the Draft at MLB Network’s studio, then began his professional career with the Pirates’ Class A Short-Season afiliate, the West Virginia Black Bears.

The year also brought a challenge closer to home. In June, Peyton was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The Pirates encouraged Swaggerty to leave his team, head home and be by his then-girlfriend’s side as she underwent surgery. Peyton is now cancer-free, Swaggerty said, and they both appreciated Pittsburgh’s support during a tough time.

“It was huge. They didn’t even think twice,” he said. “They’re so family-oriented here. They proved it by doing that.”

Swaggerty rejoined the Black Bears roster, made the New York-Penn League All-Star team and earned a late-season promotion to the Pirates’ full-season Class A affiliate, the West Virginia Power. He learned the truth behind the saying that the baseball season is a grind.

The season is long. The competition is tougher. Minor League travel can be grueling.

But where else would Swaggerty rather be?

“I embraced it, and I enjoyed it,” he said. “I thought I was ready. I feel like I have the tools to play at this level. I think I showed that. If I continue to work on my craft, I think the sky’s the limit.”