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Notebook: Bucs sign six draft picks
The Pirates have now signed six of their picks from this week's draft. Their highest signed pick is right-handed pitcher Jeff Sues, a fifth-round selection out of Vanderbilt University.
Third baseman Freddy Sanchez, recovering from a groin injury, was cleared to play Friday but did not start against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Manager Lloyd McClendon said Sanchez -- whose last start came Sunday against the Atlanta Braves -- would be back in the lineup today.
Reliever Mike Gonzalez said it's been a sore knee, not a dead arm, that has hampered him recently. "My arm is feeling great," he said. "It's the knee. I sprained it about a month ago, and it's been creeping up on me. It's just one of those things I have to play through." McClendon said Wednesday that Gonzalez was suffering from a dead-arm, which caused him to be unavailable for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.
The Pirates signed catcher John Walk to a minor-league contract yesterday. Walk is the son of former Pirates pitcher and current color analyst Bob Walk. John Walk attended North Allegheny High School and Indiana (Pa.), where he hit .260 in 18 games this year with one home run and four RBI.
McClendon said he still hasn't decided on his rotation for the upcoming road trip against the New York Yankees and Boston. Because of the recent off day Thursday and the one coming up Monday, left-hander Dave Williams could have his next turn in the rotation skipped. "It's still a possibility," McClendon said. "I'm just not ready to announce anything yet."
Recently-demoted infielder Ty Wigginton hit his second home run for Class AAA Indianapolis and drove in four runs in the Indians' 12-5 over Scranton on Thursday. In four games since joining the Indians, Wigginton is hitting .188 (3 for 16) with a total of six RBI.
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