Lonnie Chisenhall knows his new gig as the Pittsburgh Pirates’ start

BRADENTON Joey Gallo Jersey , Fla. (AP) — ing right fielder is likely temporary.Gregory Polanco is recovering from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder and the Pirates say he will be out until sometime between mid-April and mid-June. Chisenhall was signed to a $2.75 million, one-year contract in the offseason to serve as the fill-in.The Pirates feel Chisenhall can be a valuable option off the bench once Polanco is healthy. He began his major league career with the Cleveland Indians as a third baseman and is also capable of playing first base as well as the three outfield positions.It will mark the first time in Chisenhall’s nine years in the majors that he will be a bench player.“Versatility is the way the game is trending now,” Chisenhall said. “Guys need to play multiple positions. You have to be able to affect the game in different areas. I’m just trying to stay the course.“You have to be open-minded and willing to grow. I needed to change and make myself more versatile. It’s something I pride myself in. It’s a lot of extra work. But there is always room to grow.”Chisenhall had spent his entire professional career in the Indians’ organization since being their first-round draft pick in 2008. The Pirates selected Chisenhall in the 11th round two years earlier following his senior year of high school in Morehead City, North Carolina, but he opted to attend the University of South Carolina.Not surprisingly, spring training has been a bit of an adjustment period for him.“You can do all the handshakes and meet-and-greets you want during spring training but until you’re in a game during the regular season, that’s when you get to know the players,” Chisenhall said. “I’m trying to accelerate that.”This also marks Chisenhall’s first spring training in Florida. When it was mentioned that the travel is much easier to teams in Arizona, Chisenhall smiled.“I like to fish so I’ve enjoyed Florida,” Chisenhall said. “It’s hard to go fishing in Arizona.”Chisenahall is hoping to stay healthy this season. Last year, he was limited to 29 games because of injuries to both calves.“My goal this season is just to be on the field,” Chisenhall said.Polanco is trying to get back on the field. He is hitting without restriction http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey , but his throwing is limited to 120 feet.“I’m feeling stronger every week, but I also know I have to be patient,” Polanco said. “I put too much work into my rehab to try to come back too soon and mess it all up.”NOTES: The Pirates made their first roster cuts of the spring Saturday by optioning RHPs JT Brubaker, Luis Escobar and Mitch Keller to Triple-A Indianapolis and reassigning LHPs Elvis Escobar and Blake Weiman, RHPs Dario Agrazal and Eduardo Vera and C Jason Delay to minor league camp. . LF Corey Dickerson left Saturday’s 10-1 loss to the Minnesota Twins after the third inning with right ankle discomfort following an awkward slide but was walking without a limp after the game. LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — When Michael Fulmer arrived in the major leagues in 2016, his impact was impressive and immediate.Now, the Detroit right-hander will settle for steady progress.Three years after that sparkling debut season, Fulmer is at a bit of a crossroads. He won AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2016 but has struggled to return to that form, especially last year, when he went 3-12 with a 4.69 ERA. His 2018 season ended a bit early because of knee problems, and Fulmer — who turns 26 this month — has been working on some mechanical adjustments in response to his injuries.“I think last year Ferguson Jenkins Jersey , performance-wise, I wasn’t a hundred percent all the way through the season, and I think it showed,” he said Monday. “This year, we’re trying to kind of redo everything and get to be pain free, which I am. I’m blessed for that, and I think everything else will kind of build up.”Fulmer pitched three innings in Monday’s 9-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Kolten Wong led off with a home run that carried up to an elevated walkway behind the bullpen in right field. That was the only run off Fulmer.“He felt really good with the ball coming out of his hand,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “The second and third inning, really good. It was coming out nice, his changeup, his breaking ball, so that’s what you’re looking for. Now http://www.rangersfanproshop.com/authentic-matt-moore-jersey , whether the velocity gets going with it, who knows?”Fulmer’s velocity has been a big topic. The pitch Wong hit for a home run was just 91 mph, according to the reading at the ballpark. But Fulmer figures he has enough time to build up to higher speeds as the season approaches.“I’m not worried about it,” he said. “If it keeps going up every outing, then we’ll be spot on.”The Tigers acquired Fulmer in 2015 when they traded Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets. Shortly after Fulmer arrived in the majors in 2016, he went on a run of nine straight starts allowing no more than one earned run.That peak would have been hard for any pitcher to sustain, but Fulmer finished with an 11-7 record and a 3.06 ERA, beating Gary Sanchez of the Yankees for Rookie of the Year. He was 10-12 with a 3.83 ERA in 2017, earning an All-Star nod, but last season raised questions about both his health and his ability to pitch like an ace over the long term.Right now, Fulmer has a lot to prove. His health seems fine. His fastball is a work in progress. Both will be under scrutiny over the next few weeks.“He’s the only person that knows if he’s going to have a little extra, and we just have to give it time Ryan Rua Jersey ,” Gardenhire said. “This is spring training, so he’s got plenty of time. He’s going to have quite a few more starts.”NOTES: The Tigers have all 40-man roster players under contract for 2019 after announcing deals right-handers Victor Alcantara, Sandy Baez, Buck Farmer, Reed Garrett, Eduardo Jimenez, Joe Jimenez, Franklin Perez, Zac Reininger, Spencer Turnbull and Drew VerHagen; left-handers Ryan Carpenter, Jose Fernandez, Matt Hall Drew Robinson Jersey , Gregory Soto and Daniel Stumpf; catchers Grayson Greiner and John Hicks; infielders Sergio Alcantara, Jeimer Candelario, Willi Castro, Brandon Dixon, Niko Goodrum, Dawel Lugo and Ronny Rodríguez; and outfielders JaCoby Jones, Mikie Mahtook, Dustin Peterson, Victor Reyes and Christin Stewart.