Jung Ho Kang Ramping Up Rehab Activities
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - OFFICIAL BUSINESS
The first official workout of Spring Training got underway on Tuesday morning at Pirate City in Bradenton, Florida. Picture perfect blue skies and high 70s temperatures were the conditions for the longest workout so far of the spring.
Jung Ho Kang ramped up activity a bit, taking grounders at third base and making across the diamond throws to first base, and also fielding groundballs.
Kang ground ball ISO cam. pic.twitter.com/7bM0EeCon5
— Dan Zangrilli (@DanZangrilli) February 23, 2016
Pirates' manager Clint Hurdle provided this update on Kang's activity level: "There'll be hitting in the cage, hitting off the tee, the live hitting – not right now. Any situation that calls for a quick, violent movement, we're holding off on right now."
BLUE-HAIRED ROOMIE:
To get to the major leagues, players have to grind through some very unique situations while minor leaguers. This was the case for new Pirates first baseman Jason Rogers. In 2010 while playing for the Laconia (New Hampshire) Muskrats, of the New England Collegiate Baseball League, Rogers needed a place to stay, and options were limited.
"It was too late to get a host family. My teammate made a call and found a retirement home for us to stay in. It was crazy."
Rogers slept on a pull-out bed, which he described as, "comfortable enough," that he had to get used to and ate breakfast and lunch with his new friends and shared stories learning about life.
His stay wasn't long, though - about two weeks and just three games for the Muskrats. Rogers was drafted in the 32nd round by Milwaukee and made the cross-country trek to Arizona to begin playing for the Brewers Single-A Rookie club.
You can listen to the interview with Rogers and Pirates pre-game and post-game show host Dan Zangrilli here:
NEW FEDERAL STREET FARE
The Pirates on Tuesday announced that Dominic's Famous Deli and Bottle Shop will not return to PNC Park in 2016. Instead, AMPD Group will bring a Steel Cactus Restaurante and Cantina to the prime space on Federal Street outside the park.
Steel Cactus provides a blend of unique Mexican dishes with a Cantina party atmosphere. The menu will be the same as the two other Pittsburgh locations in South Side and Shady Side.
Grand Opening is scheduled for sometime in March.