Pirates to use Altoona Curve stadium as alternate training facility
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Thursday that Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of their Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve, will be used an alternate training facility this season.
“The Pirates organization is appreciative of the longstanding relationship we have had for over two decades with the Altoona Curve,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said in a statement. “The people, proximity, along with the first-class facility, makes Peoples Natural Gas Field an ideal choice to safely host our alternate training site for the upcoming season.”
Feels SO good to be back in Pittsburgh.. where my building has what I see as a plyo wall ? get it in any way possible! pic.twitter.com/ISd50YE5sf
— Jameson Taillon (@JTaillon19) June 14, 2020
The Pirates plan to use PNC Park as their primary facility for training camp, which begins July 1, but could use Peoples Natural Gas Field as the home for their 30-man taxi squad of prospects. The Pirates said they will announce workout dates, player roster and more information in the next few days.
Curve general manager Derek Martin noted how Altoona being chosen as the alternate training facility reinforces the strength of the “remarkable relationship” between the Pirates and Curve since 1999.
“Being 90 miles from PNC Park, Altoona is a great location to allow the Pirates to get a player to Pittsburgh, or wherever they need to get to, quickly and safely,” Martin said.
Kevin Gorman is a TribLive reporter covering the Pirates. A Baldwin native and Penn State graduate, he joined the Trib in 1999 and has covered high school sports, Pitt football and basketball and was a sports columnist for 10 years. He can be reached at kgorman@triblive.com.
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