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Notebook: Pirates give former top prospect a look

By Joe Rutter, TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, March 7, 2005
Today's games
Today's opponent: Cincinnati Reds

Probable starters, Game 1: Pirates' Todd Ritchie vs. Reds' Paul Wilson

Probable starters, Game 2: Pirates' Paul Maholm or Bobby Bradley vs. Reds' Josh Hancock

Notable: Kip Wells was scratched from his start in the day game with stiffness in his right elbow. Ritchie will be making his first start. Salomon Torres, Mike Johnston and Rick White are scheduled to pitch in the first game. Mark Corey, Brian Reith and Jeremy Harts are expected to pitch in the nightcap.

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The Pirates have given a minor-league tryout to Nick Bierbrodt, a former first-round draft pick and top pitching prospect whose career was sidetracked by a shooting incident three years ago.

Bierbrodt, a 26-year-old left-hander, threw off the mound recently for Brian Graham, the Pirates director of player development. Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said Bierbrodt will be offered a contract if there is a need at Triple-A Indianapolis.

"It's still being evaluated," Littlefield said.

Bierbrodt is 6-9 with a 6.66 ERA in 38 career games with Arizona, Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Texas. He started last season in the Boston Red Sox organization, pitched four games with the Rangers before being designated for assignment at the All-Star break and had his minor-league contract with the Cincinnati Reds terminated in August. The New York Yankees and Mets also have given Bierbrodt tryouts this spring.

In 2003, Bierbrodt was on a minor-league rehab assignment when he was struck in the chest by two bullets while sitting in the back seat of a car at a fast food restaurant drive-thru window.

  • Maels Rodriguez, the 25-year-old Cuban defector who worked out for the Pirates on Saturday, has returned home to Miami after spending 3-4 days in the team's minor-league camp. Littlefield said he would maintain contact with Rodriguez's agent.

    "He's an intriguing guy," Littlefield said. "We've seen him throw up to 100 mph as a reliever, and he's had a lot of success. Those kind of guys are hard to find."

  • Left-hander Oliver Perez will throw a second round of batting practice Tuesday, which could be the final hurdle he needs to clear before being used in a game. Perez played catch Sunday and will do so again today.

  • Non-roster right-hander Kirk Bullinger (hamstring) has been cleared to pitch in games. He will throw one inning today against the Cincinnati Reds.

  • Non-roster right-hander Joe Roa (lower back strain) is getting closer to pitching in a game. He threw off the mound yesterday and is scheduled to throw again Tuesday.


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