BRADENTON, Fla. — Derek Shelton makes his debut as Pittsburgh Pirates manager and unveiled the starting lineup for the Grapefruit League opener at 1:05 p.m. Saturday against the Minnesota Twins at LECOM Park.
Guillermo Heredia will bat leadoff and play center field, followed by Bryan Reynolds as designated hitter, second baseman Adam Frazier, first baseman Josh Bell, shortstop Cole Tucker, catcher Jacob Stallings, third baseman Philip Evans, right fielder Socrates Brito and left fielder Jared Olivia.
Right-handed Mitch Keller, the team’s top prospect in 2019, will start for the Pirates. James Marvel, Clay Holmes, Miguel Del Pozo, Williams Herez and Blake Cederlind also are scheduled to pitch. Left-hander Devin Smeltzer will start for the Twins.
The Pirates have a split squad on Sunday, with left-hander Derek Holland scheduled to start against Detroit’s Zack Godley at LECOM Park with right-hander Trevor Williams against Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola. On Monday night, right-hander Chris Archer will face the New York Yankees and former Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole. Right-hander Joe Musgrove is scheduled to start against the Phillies on Tuesday.
The Pirates also will unveil a new netting system at LECOM Park, which extends down the base lines to the foul pole.
