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Youngsters still learning

By John Mehno

For the Mirror

PITTSBURGH — Spring training ended a couple of weeks ago, but the Pirates are still in an instructional mode.

Infielders Josh Bell, Alen Hanson and Phil Gosselin were on the PNC Park field Monday afternoon, well ahead of the 7:05 start time for the game against the Cincinnati Reds.

Hanson was getting work at third, Gosselin at second and Bell continues to put his efforts into learning first base.

Bell came up as an outfielder, but the Pirates have no openings there. So he was moved to first base a couple of seasons ago.

“A work in progress,” is how manager Clint Hurdle described it.

Hurdle was on the field for the extra work, as was coach Joey Cora, who works with the infielders.

Hanson started his career as a shortstop, then moved to second base. The Pirates want him to be available for third base and the corner outfield spots to increase his versatility.

Since teams started using 12-man pitching staffs, there’s been a premium on bench players who can be viable at multiple positions.

The big project here is Bell, who can theoretically provide power to a lineup that is short on that quality.

Bell is good enough to start, but Hurdle has been lifting him for a defensive replacement in the late innings.

“He’s working on his feet, on his hands,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He has a flat glove, almost like a skillet, so he needs to get in front of the ball. It’s almost like a catcher’s mitt with no mitt part of it.”

Hurdle said Bell is working on throws to second base and just repeating the fundamentals that come with playing first base.

“It’s just practice and reps, and getting some rhythm with it,” he said. “He’s showing some positive signs.”

Bell put in extra time in Florida with Kevin Young, who is a special assistant in the Pirates’ baseball operations department. Young successfully transitioned to first base during his career after he outgrew third base.

General manager Neil Huntington said Bell is, “a playable first baseman at this point in time. He continues to work hard to get better.”

In and out

David Freese returned to the starting lineup Monday after sitting out two starts.

Freese was struck in the chest by a bad hop grounder in Friday’s opener and had a bruise. He was able to enter Sunday’s game in the later innings.

Josh Harrison was out of Monday’s starting lineup. He was struck on the right calf by a fastball on Sunday. Harrison was limping badly as he tried to continue, and left the game.

Hurdle said Harrison would be available off the bench on Monday.

“It tightened up after the hit by pitch,” Hurdle said. “He felt much better when he woke up this morning.”

Wipe out

One of the big plays in Sunday’s game didn’t show up in the box score.

Freese made a hard slide into second base to break up a possible double play on a ball hit by Francisco Cervelli.

The Atlanta Braves challenged the play, claiming that Freese was in violation of the new rules instituted last season. Replay upheld the original call.

Runners are not allowed to slide late, to change their path, or to reach out with an arm or leg to disrupt a throw. The changes were made to protect middle infielders.

It’s taken some potential mayhem out of the game.

“I can remember being taught to pop up out of the slide and then roll into the guy,” Hurdle said.

Moving up

Starling Marte hit the fourth walk off homer of his career to end Sunday’s game.

The Pirates’ record of six is shared by two Hall of Fame players — Ralph Kiner and Willie Stargell.

Andrew McCutchen has five walk off home runs.

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