Polanco, Marte return to Pirates after different experiences in WBC
Associated Press
The Dominican Republic蘑菇视频 Gregory Polanco celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against Venezuela during the fifth inning in the second round of the World Baseball Classic last week in San Diego.
Dominican Republic's Starling Marte (6) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the eighth inning聽against the United States in the first round of the World Baseball Classic on March 11 in Miami. The Dominican Republic won 7-5.
BRADENTON, Fla. 鈥� The Pirates got two-thirds of their outfield back from the World Baseball Classic, as Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte returned from the Dominican Republic squad and reported to LECOM Park to resume spring training.
Marte suffered an ankle injury early in the Dominican team蘑菇视频 run, and spent much of the WBC hobbled, but he is back to full health and ready to participate right away for the Pirates.
Polanco, on the other hand, played well, hitting .579 with a home run and two doubles in 19 at-bats.
鈥淓verybody might want to see what kind of bat he uses, shake his hand, rub his arm, anything,鈥� joked manager Clint Hurdle. 鈥淗e was hot.鈥�
Marte thinks the experience of playing 鈥� and having so much success 鈥� with and against some of the best players in baseball during the spring will be a boon for Polanco this season.
鈥淚t was great, especially being able to just develop, confront and go against and face those types of pitchers and different types of pitching,鈥� Marte said through translator Mike Gonzalez. 鈥淭here were moments in the dugout where I was able to pull him aside, speak some life into him and motivate him. Overall, it was awesome seeing him and I believe he蘑菇视频 ready for the season.鈥�
While there can certainly be positives to be taken from the WBC, the Pirates starting outfield hasn鈥檛 played together in three weeks. In fact, they last played against one another, with the American team featuring Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison eliminating the Dominicans on Saturday.
鈥淚 actually don鈥檛 have any concern at all, being able to participate prior to the WBC with those other two,鈥� Marte said. 鈥淏eing able to play with Polanco in the WBC, we had some really good reads. Overall, I think we have really great chemistry already. I don鈥檛 think there蘑菇视频 anything to be concerned about right now. McCutchen is getting some good reps over there in the WBC. I鈥檓 excited and I believe this is going to be a really good season for all of us.鈥�
Marte also added that there won鈥檛 be any hard feelings when the Americans eventually return to spring training, even McCutchen, whose two-run, eighth-inning double sealed the victory for the United States.
鈥淚t蘑菇视频 fun, man,鈥� Marte said. 鈥淚t was just really good being able to watch them and being on an opposing team watching them compete and stuff like that. I take pride when I watch my other teammates compete and be able to compete at that caliber of baseball. I thought it was pretty funny, us giving each other little hints about how the others play and them giving their teammates hints about how me play. Overall, it was fun.鈥�
Marte and Polanco will be in the starting lineup when the Pirates face the Boston Red Sox today. They鈥檒l be joined in the outfield by Jose Osuna, a Venezuelan prospect that蘑菇视频 hitting .436 this spring.