AROUND THE MLB | More news from Tuesday

Pirates may have to wait on Jung Ho Kang

PITTSBURGH

The Pittsburgh Pirates will begin spring training without third baseman Jung Ho Kang.

President Frank Coonelly announced Tuesday the team doesn’t expect Kang reporting with the rest of the team’s position players by Friday. Kang is scheduled to go to trial in Seoul, South Korea, on Feb. 22 following his arrest in December on charges of driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident.

Coonelly says the team “will continue to do whatever we can to assist (him) and his representatives in their efforts to resolve all necessary matters so that Jung Ho will be able to travel to the United States to prepare for and play in the 2017 season.” Kang is in the third year of a four-year contract he signed with Pittsburgh in January 2015.

Cubs’ Schwarber to catch sparingly

The Cubs haven’t completely dismissed the notion of Kyle Schwarber serving as their third catcher this season after he missed 61/2 months last year before returning for the 2016 World Series in dramatic fashion.

“We’re going to really go slow with it, like one or two days a week in spring training,” President Theo Epstein said on the eve of the Cubs’ first workout for pitchers and catchers. “His primary focus will be in left field.”

Epstein expects team orthopedist Stephen Gryzlo to clear Schwarber, who tore two ligaments in an outfield collision on April 7, for limited catching drills.

Epstein emphasized “we’re just going to walk before we squat with catching and really ease into it with him.”

Before Epstein’s comments, Schwarber again expressed his desire to catch but understood the medical considerations.

“If it’s not medically safe, there’s no risk,” Schwarber said after taking batting practice and shagging balls in left field.

King Felix hopes for bounce-back year

peoria, ariz.

Felix Hernandez arrived for Seattle Mariners spring training on Tuesday already ahead in his offseason preparation from previous years.

It’s the result of the World Baseball Classic and his determination to prove last year’s struggles were an anomaly.

“I’ve got to prove people wrong,” Hernandez said after taking his physical with the Mariners. “I feel fine. I’m healthy. That’s the main thing.”

How Hernandez approached the offseason was one of Seattle’s big questions after watching its ace have a rocky 2016 season that included a lengthy stint on the disabled list due to a leg injury. Hernandez was 11-8 with a 3.82 ERA in 25 starts last season. It was the fewest starts in a full season in his career and his ERA was its highest since 2007. He walked more batters, struck out fewer and was prone to giving up the long ball.

It was unlike the Hernandez most have come to expect, which made how he would respond one of the big topics that could ultimately determine how good Seattle is in 2017.

Tillman won’t get Opening Day O’s start

sarasota, fla.

Chris Tillman won’t extend his streak of opening-day starts for Baltimore to four.

As spring training opened, Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Tuesday the right-hander had a platelet-rich plasma injection on his right shoulder and will not pitch in a spring training game before March 17, As a result, Tillman won’t start the season until April 7 at the earliest.

“We’re going to make sure we get it right. This is as fast as we feel comfortable going safely,” Showalter said.

Tillman went 16-6 with a 3.77 ERA last year, spending about three weeks on the disabled list with soreness in the right shoulder late in the season. He recovered to start the wild-card game against Toronto.

Associated Press