The Pittsburgh Pirates made their first cuts of spring training, optioning five players and reassigning 10 others to minor league camp.
The most notable moves involve four of their top-five prospects, optioning infielder Oneil Cruz and reassigning their past two first-round picks, infielder Nick Gonzales and right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester.
Cruz, a 6-foot-7 shortstop, saw time in the outfield for the first time in his pro career but batted .050 (1-for-20) with five strikeouts and two walks in 12 Grapefruit League games.
Priester, their 2019 first-rounder, made his Grapefruit League debut Monday, allowing one run on one hit, one walk and a balk in two-thirds of an inning against the Baltimore Orioles in Sarasota, Fla.
Gonzales, selected No. 7 overall out of New Mexico State this past June, went 0-for-6 with four strikeouts and a walk in six games this spring.
They also reassigned 2018 first-rounder in outfielder Travis Swaggerty, who batted .154 (2-for-13) with a double and an RBI and six strikeouts in 13 games.
The Pirates also optioned infielder Rodolfo Castro and right-handers Roansy Contreras, Max Kranick and Nick Mears. They also reassigned right-handers Cody Bolton and Jandel Gustave, catcher Jason Delay, first baseman Mason Martin, shortstop Liover Peguero and outfielders Cal Mitchell and Canaan Smith-Njigba.
Peguero also is considered a top-five prospect but his arrival was delayed by visa issues.
The Pirates have 56 players remaining in their major league camp, with 29 pitchers, seven catchers, 12 infielders and eight outfielders.
