Pirates’ Clement works at first base

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Two hours before the Pittsburgh Pirates begin their daily workouts, infielders coach Carlos Garcia puts Jeff Clement through a special series of drills.

On a half-field tucked away in the back of the spring training complex, a spot half-hidden by a fence and the looming batter’s eye of an adjacent field, Clement scoops grounders, charges dribblers and knocks down hard-hoppers.

The Pirates want Clement to be their opening day first baseman — no small chore, considering he’s never really played the position.

“He’s my project this spring,” Garcia said. “I’m happy with his progress. He’s built a foundation. His hands and rhythm around the bag are getting a lot better. Hopefully, when we break camp, he’ll be able to become our first baseman.”

When the Seattle Mariners drafted Clement with the third overall pick in 2005, he was a top-flight college catcher. He reached the majors in 2008, and flashed his offensive potential with a two-homer game against the Detroit Tigers.

That September, however, Clement had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The Mariners, concerned about the ongoing wear and tear on Clement’s joints, used him last season mostly as a designated hitter at Triple-A Tacoma.

Last July, Clement was traded to Pittsburgh as part of a seven-player deal. Although Clement hoped to be moved back to catcher, the Pirates quickly made it clear their plans for him were at first base.

Clement played 22 games at first for Triple-A Indianapolis, and he made only one error in 189 chances. He was shut down in September due to a strained oblique, which also cut into his offseason workouts.

At the team’s minicamp in January in Bradenton, Clement, who lives during the offseason in Iowa, finally got back on the field.

“I couldn’t do much fielding work back home this winter, unless it was fielding snowballs,” Clement joked. “Every day I’m over there at first base, I get more comfortable reading the ball.”

Clement’s lefty-hitting power would be an excellent fit at PNC Park and, other than Garrett Jones, the Pirates’ lineup lacks punch. So, management plans on giving Clement every chance to win the first base job.

“He’s got the hands to do it,” said manager John Russell, who was a catcher during his playing career. “We’ll see how he progresses and try not to put a lot of pressure on him. To make a determination today is not fair to him or us, but so far so good.”

Clement has little trouble digging balls out of the dirt and handling errant throws. Although he struggles with his footwork and at times seems uncomfortable at the bag, Clement will start at first base Wednesday, when the Pirates play their first Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees.

“Definitely, he’s still learning,” said Garcia. “As a catcher, he had to have a rhythm and timing to release the ball to second base and his footwork was a big part of that. That’s what we’re trying to do with him from the first baseman standpoint.”