Camp Crashers

With the addition of RHP Jeff Sues, the Pirate roster of non-40 man roster invitees to camp is now at 26 players. They are:

Pitchers (18) - RH Jimmy Barthmaier, RH Brian Bass, LH Brian Burres, RH D.J. Carrasco, RH Vinnie Chulk, RH Anthony Claggett, LH Neal Cotts, RH Craig Hansen, RH Steven Jackson, RH Jeff Karstens, LH Wilfredo Ledezma, RH Jean Machi, RH Jeremy Powell, RH Jeff Sues, LH Jack Taschner, LH Justin Thomas, RH Virgil Vasquez, and RH Tyler Yates.

Outlook: Carrasco has an excellent shot at sticking; Jackson and Ledzema will get good looks. Cotts, Hansen, and Yates are all recovering from injuries and probably won't be physically ready for the start of the season.

Catchers (4) - Luke Carlin, Hector Gimenez, Erik Kratz, and Tony Sanchez.

Outlook: They're just in Bradenton to give the pitchers a target. It's growing less likely that Ryan Doumit will be dealt, but if there's a trade or injury, Carlin is probably the next man on the organizational depth chart, just ahead of Kratz.

Infielders (2) - 2B Doug Bernier and SS Brian Friday.

Outlook: Neither has a shot at breaking camp with the big team.

Outfielders (2) - Brian Myrow and Jonathan Van Every.

Outlook: On a team glutted with outfielders, these guys are assuredly Indy-bound. But both are MLB capable players and add nice depth to the position. If the team packages some of their excess outfielders, one or the other could end up on Pittsburgh's bench. But the numbers game is slanted decidedly against them now.