SPIKES NOTES

Young pitchers moving into Spikes' rotation

By Guy Cipriano

UNIVERSITY PARK — Right-handers Victor Black and Phillip Irwin are moving into the State College Spikes' rotation.

Black and Irwin, who both pitched perfect relief innings and threw fastballs in the mid-90s Tuesday against Mahoning Valley, will operate in piggyback roles this summer, pitching coach Mike Steele said.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are closely monitoring both pitchers’ innings. Black worked 882/ 3 innings as a junior at Dallas Baptist. Irwin tossed 862/ 3 innings as a fourth-year junior at Mississippi.

Neither pitcher has worked in a piggyback role, which involves two pitchers sharing the bulk of the innings.

“I never heard of that in college,” Irwin said. “You’re going seven in college.”

Black is expected to pitch two innings in his next outing Sunday at Williamsport. Steele said Irwin will throw three innings. It’s unlikely either pitcher will throw more than four innings during an outing this season.

Black, a supplemental first-round pick, said he understands the inning restrictions.

“Deep inside, if I’m going to start, I want the opportunity to go six innings,” he said. “The fact is that I’m in pro ball and I have been waiting three years to get here. Throwing an inning at a time is rough, but the fact that I’m getting to throw now is just a blessing.

“I will take it as it comes knowing that it’s what’s best for me. Buying into their philosophy is fine.”

Both players warmed-up Tuesday as if they were starting. They left their bullpen seats early in starter Jason Erickson’s outing. Erickson, a 24th-round pick from Washington, also started his career in the bullpen before moving into a four-inning piggyback role Tuesday.

“I didn’t know that was going to be my role here,” Erickson said. “I started in the pen, and I was told after my second outing I was going to be in more of a starter-piggyback mode, so no, it wasn’t something I knew I was going to do coming in.”

Steele said he’s impressed with the newly drafted pitchers the Pirates have sent the Spikes. The staff also includes Marc Baca (42nd round, UNLV) and Ted Fallon (39th, South Carolina-State Upstate).

“Our scouting department did an unbelievable job,” Steele said. “Not only did they get guys with talent, these are baseball players.”

Chambers joins Spikes

The Spikes received another high draft pick Wednesday when third-rounder Evan Chambers arrived at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The Pirates selected the 5-foot-9, 220-pound Chambers in third round out of Hillsborough (Fla.) Community College.

Manager Gary Robinson said Chambers, who participated in pregame drills, will play center field.

Chambers could bring power and speed to the lineup. He hit .324 with 11 homers and stole 27 bases as a sophomore at Hillsborough. Chambers, a 19th-round selection of the Colorado Rockies in 2007, started his college career at Florida.

No longer sore

Aaron Baker, an 11th-round pick from Oklahoma, made his first start at first base Wednesday against Auburn. Baker joined the Spikes on June 21, but suffered a neck injury that prevented him from playing during last week’s roadtrip to Mahoning Valley and Auburn.

Baker made his professional debut at designated hitter on Tuesday, finishing 1 for 3 with a triple, walk and two strikeouts.

“It was very frustrating because ever since I can remember I have always wanted to play pro baseball,” Baker said. “Being up here was just very exciting. Ever since I have been up here I have wanted to play and it was rough sitting out because I wanted to be here for so long. Now, I’m ready to go.”

All-Star duo

Former Spikes Brian Friday and Daniel Moskos were selected to represent the Southern Division in this month’s Eastern League All-Star Game. Friday and Moskos both started their professional careers with the Spikes in 2007 and currently play for the Double-A Altoona Curve.

Friday, a shortstop, entered Wednesday hitting .259 with five homers and 17 RBIs. Moskos, a left-hander, is 4-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 15 games.