Fifth Avenue Forum

This game length is unacceptable

I always thought Elias Diaz had some potential. Hope he can make it work there

This off day after opening day is garbage.

This off day after opening day is garbage.

The Pirates announced Saturday their initial roster for the club’s alternate training site in Pittsburgh, which will host 31 players from the start. However, the biggest surprise was not who was included but rather, who was not.

Cole Tucker, the former top prospect who fell short in the shortstop competition this spring, and Jared Oliva, the Pirates’ No. 16 prospect, were both left off the club’s alternate training site roster.

According to manager Derek Shelton, this was part of the plan to help the duo, along with other Minor Leaguers, develop some specific skills before heading to Pittsburgh. He declined to specify what those skills were.

“We sat down and talked to them about what our thoughts were and laid out a plan, and they were both 100 percent on board with it,” Shelton said. “We figured Bradenton was a better place to get the actual skill development stuff.”

Pitchers (15): Tyler Bashlor, Chase De Jong, Jandel Gustave, Geoff Hartlieb, Max Kranick, James Marvel, Nick Mears, Braeden Ogle, Sean Poppen, Edgar Santana, Chasen Shreve, Shea Spitzbarth, Blake Weiman, Steven Wright, Miguel Yajure

Catchers (4): Jason Delay, Joe Hudson, Christian Kelley, Andrew Susac

Infielders (7): Ji-hwan Bae, Rodolfo Castro, Will Craig, Oneil Cruz, Wilmer Difo, Todd Frazier, Connor Kaiser

Outfielders (5): Brian Goodwin, Hunter Owen, Chris Sharpe, Troy Stokes Jr., Travis Swaggerty

Shelton said the group will be led by Triple-A manager Brian Esposito, Triple-A pitching coach Joel Hanrahan, Double-A hitting coach Dave Newhan and Double-A bench coach Gary Green.