PBN Around the Horn

PBN Around the Horn: Plans, Promotions, and Pandemonium

Published

2 years ago

January 6, 2022

Welcome to the PBN Around the Horn. Here you’ll find news and notes from across Major League Baseball, your Pittsburgh Pirates, and around the Sports Now network.

UPDATE (11:50 a.m.) The Pirates have canceled their minor league instructs camp scheduled for later on in January.

Pirates today cancelled their minor league instructional camp that had been scheduled for later this month in Bradenton, Fla. Per the team: "We felt the risk was far too great to pull of an offseason camp of this size at this time."

— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) January 6, 2022

The development of players is of the utmost importance for building a championship-caliber team. General manager Ben Cherington for the most part has done his part in terms of development over the past few years. It seems that his philosophy is more about waves or groups of guys getting to each level at or around the same time; we see it with guys like Cruz, Contreras, Castro, etc.

It seems that Cherington would also like the minor league managers to follow the prospects as well, with the news of Kieran Mattison and Miguel Perez each getting promoted up a level. For Mattison, this is what he had to say about getting promoted.

“It means a lot to me. I’m honored and humbled to have this opportunity! Looking forward to continuing to build championship caliber players and team in Altoona this season.”

Can this philosophy work? Only time will tell, but we can start to see little by little the pieces started to shift in place.

Pittsburgh Baseball Now Notes

How Do You Get Fired On Your Day Off?!

Pirates Reportedly Hire Chad Noble As Catching Coordinator

Pirates Shuffle Coaches in Minor League System

Pirates Prospects Notes

P2 had a huge day of coverage from Tim Williams, John Dreker, Wilbur Miller, Anthony Murphy, and Cody Potanko (Me) in a brand-new format. Tim gives us three pieces on how Pirates’ player development has changed.

John Gives us a piece centered around Randy Romero. Wilbur gives us a 2022 preview for the Bradenton Marauders. Anthony “Murph Dog” Murphy fills us in on Jared Jones, and finally, I give you an update on Cody Bolton.