By: Jon Mozes
AltoonaCurve.com
This story is part of the series 2024 Spring Break: Young Bucs Edition, a compilation of reports from Bradenton leading up to Opening Day.
BRADENTON, Fla. – Every spring minor league players get their first opportunity to put on their organization’s major league uniform and 2023 Curve infielder Jackson Glenn is no different.
Through play on March 11 Glenn has made three appearances with the Pirates including a solo homer off of Atlanta’s Anthony Vizcaya on February 27, but today in an intrasquad game at Pirate City; he got the unique opportunity to face Pirates lefty Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman, who has played 14 major league seasons and features a fastball that routinely works in the triple digits, was getting his work in as he ramps up for his first season with the Pirates. But for Glenn and several other Pirates minor leaguers, it was a thrill to test their game against one of the league’s best.
“We saw this guy pitch when we were in middle school and it’s fun to get a chance to compete against someone like that,” Glenn said after the team’s intrasquad game wrapped up. “Today was fun, but it’s also a good reminder that there’s a long way to go.”
Glenn is expected to get a few more opportunities to play in major league games, games that will surely help his development as a player before beginning his fourth full season of professional baseball.
“I think the takeaway is that the game never changes. There are obviously some freak athletes and some really good baseball players, but at its very core – baseball never changes. And that’s something that we can hang our hats on and that gives guys like me confidence – knowing that you can compete and the game never changes so you just go out and play your game.”
Glenn spent the majority of his off-season in Dallas with his wife, Brystal, and while they enjoyed a Northern California getaway to visit friends of theirs from their college days; the highlight of Glenn’s off-season is that his family is expected to grow by one member in the coming week.
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Curve Cuts
- Monday’s seven-inning intrasquad game saw several 2023 Curve members suit up including catcher Abrahan Gutierrez, outfielder Jase Bowen, catcher Dylan Shockley, pitchers Sean Sullivan and Cameron Junker and 2021-22 Curve infielder Josh Bissonette. However, many eyes went to the starting pitcher on the opposite side, 2017 Eastern League Champion Mitch Keller, who tossed four innings as he continued to build up toward a start on Opening Day for the Pirates. Minor league games will begin on Friday, March 15.
- Altoona’s 2023 Pitcher of the Year Jared Jones has been the talk of major league camp this spring. Jones has allowed two unearned runs in 7.1 innings across four outings and is putting his name into the conversation for the Pirates’ Opening Day roster.
- 2023 Curve RHP Braxton Ashcraft was optioned to minor league camp on March 11. Ashcraft made eight starts with the Curve last season and recorded a 1.35 ERA with shorter outings as he made his way back from Tommy John surgery. Ashcraft pitched in four games with the Pirates this spring including his first at LECOM Park on Sunday against the Phillies. According to Pirates Manager Derek Shelton, Ashcraft has begun to open some eyes this spring: “He’s got good stuff. We’re talking 96 to 98. Ability to execute the breaking ball. He got a ground ball to get out of that inning. I think the thing he continues to impress with is how the stuff plays. It’s the first time a lot of the Major League staff has had the opportunity to see him and he’s done a nice job in camp.”
- Catcher Shawn Ross is a name to track for the 2024 season. Ross was signed out of the independent ranks after the 2022 campaign when he played for Grand Junction in the MLB Partner Pioneer League and knocked 24 home runs. Ross converted from the infield to catcher last season and hit 14 homers in 55 games at High-A Greensboro. Ross rocked a double to left-center in Monday’s intrasquad game off right-hander Landon Tomkins.
Stay tuned to the Around the Curve blog all week for our 2024 Spring Break: Young Bucs Edition series, with Jon Mozes reporting from Bradenton.
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