Current and former Pittsburgh Pirates took time this week to embrace fans, teammates, relaxation, and new opportunities.
Spring training is a time for players to get back into the groove of the grind, but there’s still a little more time now than during the regular season to let their hair down and have a little fun. From the look of things, most of the team did just that while spending time at a downtown Tampa restaurant on March 6th celebrating Francisco Cervelli’s 30th birthday along with his family and close friends.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCqKkhSuo1l/?taken-by=fran_cervelli
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCqIpHCOoxm/?taken-by=fran_cervelli
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCqKXULOo1P/?taken-by=fran_cervelli
Josh Harrison must have liked the birthday cake so much that he asked Cervy’s buddy, former professional soccer player Juan Pablo Galavis, where to find it in the store…
@jhay_da_man Bro pleasure MEETING ya at Fran's Bday, this is the ONE… Jejeje pic.twitter.com/eNPmXT6WKi
— Juan Pablo Galavis™ (@JuanPaGalavis) March 8, 2016
Hahaha I'm gonna have to find that https://t.co/u90IQCjpcl
— Josh Harrison (@jhay_da_man) March 8, 2016
This week was also a time for the Pirates to see good things happening with old friends.
Neil Walker continues to make a difference in the lives of Pirates fans, as he visited a young Pennsylvania baseball player who suffered a severe injury to his arm this winter.
He lost an arm, but this 12-year-old plays baseball, inspires others https://t.co/rkG4HPGJY3 pic.twitter.com/c2UNjly8VX
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 9, 2016
Charlie Morton, who was traded to the Phillies the first day of Piratefest, caught up with former teammates when the Pirates visited Bright House Field on March 8th.
Morton says he was 'really, really lucky' for years with Pirates, writes @Sawchik_Trib >> https://t.co/vsUs8JWw02 pic.twitter.com/rjkAuXqNZG
— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) March 9, 2016
And the Big Bull himself Pedro Alvarez finally landed with the Orioles.
Pedro Alvarez joins Mike Bordick and @JimOriolesTV in the @masnOrioles booth. #OrangeSpring pic.twitter.com/gtvz0NA9MH
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) March 10, 2016
Pedro Alvarez taking his 1st round of BP #orioles pic.twitter.com/UdduWOnad3
— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) March 12, 2016
The Pirates also welcomed a new friend into the clubhouse in David Freese, recent signee of a one-year, $3 million contract with the team on Friday, who will fill in at third for the rehabbing Jung Ho Kang and then likely platoon at first opposite John Jaso.
A message from David Freese. #LetsGoBucs https://t.co/wCf4z1yqg9
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 12, 2016
Oh, and then there was some baseball stuff going on, too…
As games and practices continued at McKechnie Field, players continued trying out new equipment…
Spring training inspired Nike Lunar Caldra AMP. @nikebaseball @Nike pic.twitter.com/JGyv19gim1
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) March 9, 2016
https://twitter.com/RawlingsSports/status/706498441321570304
Receiving shipments of old stand-bys…
A man of fine taste, check out the variety of wood @jordy_mercer ordered for #SpringTraining #Pirates pic.twitter.com/PWxiGNekb9
— Marucci (@MarucciSports) March 6, 2016
And even started previewing walk-out songs…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCd_oy8potq/?taken-by=gpolanco25
For the guys who already know they’re heading north to Pittsburgh when camp breaks, this time is spent warming up and getting back into form. But for one group of players, the prospects, this is their time to shine for a shot at the show and express some gratitude for making getting a chance in spring training in the first place.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCl3v3ANK8f/?taken-by=eliasdiaz29
https://www.instagram.com/p/BCtVxvBOYVP/?taken-by=alenhanson
In catcher Elias Diaz’s case, even showing off (or making fun) a bit…
https://www.instagram.com/p/BC1Z–HNK3C/?taken-by=eliasdiaz29
While first baseman Josh Bell continued to show the love for good friend and infield utility infield hopeful Gift Ngoepe by (retweeting) making sure his story is seen/heard…
Gift Ngoepe aims to become the first Major Leaguer from South Africa.
WATCH: https://t.co/gfL7eUokQD pic.twitter.com/3nLP0NsgmJ
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 10, 2016
Even though players have a million things on their minds, a million things to do, and a million places they might want to be AFTER work is over, they still make time for the thousands of fans who visit McKechnie Field every day and hang out at practices for a chance to meet their heroes…
https://twitter.com/ariannahlogan/status/706974184614793217
Here's Marte & El Coffee signing an autograph for a fan. -RI pic.twitter.com/xv34XeOGbL
— AT&T SportsNet™ PIT (@ATTSportsNetPIT) March 11, 2016
Gracias @El_Coffee demostras además de ser un gran pelotero ser una gran persona. Guatemala BUCS Nation! pic.twitter.com/dlgZscAIAa
— Mario Smith (@Mesmith19) March 6, 2016
And they give a much-needed boost to fans, like Malvern-Prep (Pennsylvania) baseball player Mason Abate, who can’t be there in person. Abate, who was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2013 at the age of 14, has received support from Cutch throughout his fight with the disease.
Hey @TheCUTCH22 I miss you can we hangout soon pic.twitter.com/lrio6m66Pt
— Mason (@m_abate21) March 7, 2016
Stay strong bro. Keep pushin! Hope to see u around 💪 https://t.co/yQEEmhpGaC
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) March 8, 2016
Finally, social media buffs may have had a fun day on Friday as MLB took to Snapchat to celebrate spring training. Here’s a taste of the antics from the Buccos for the day (check their stories out on Snapchat @Pirates).
Glimpse life as a Pirate on Snapchat Day.
READ: https://t.co/9vP9rExY67 pic.twitter.com/hPzN0ADO6e
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 12, 2016
That’s all that’s going on in Bradenton so far. Stay tuned next week for another edition of the Social Media Round-Up!
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