Morgan eyes Bucs' center field job

PITTSBURGH -- Knowing that he will be in the spotlight during Spring Training doesn't faze Pirates outfielder Nyjer Morgan. And neither does knowing that he will be in direct competition with one of his closest friends in the organization.

There's going to be a battle for the starting center field spot between Morgan and Nate McLouth, but Morgan said recently that he isn't going to lose perspective on the fact that it will be one seeped in friendly competition.

"[McLouth has] helped me out ever since I came up with the Pirates and since I came into the Major Leagues," said the 27-year-old Morgan. "He's definitely helped me out, and competing with a guy like that, I can't ask for anything more."

With the center field job being the only position to be determined primarily based on Spring Training performance, it is sure to be a competition that will extend until the end of camp. And now, not only is Morgan competing against a player that Pirates' management has lauded as being a "complete baseball player," but Morgan is competing against his biggest mentor.

Morgan did cut into McLouth's playing time when the he earned a September callup last season. Morgan started 25 of the team's 28 game during the month and responded to his first taste of the Majors by batting .299 in his 107 at-bats.

Now the question is whether Morgan can recreate that early success.

"My thoughts are just that I am going in with the same attitude that I had when I came up," said Morgan, who stole seven bases during that month-long stint in the Majors. "A lot of people try to tell me, 'Yeah, you're a lock', but I don't see it as that. I have a heck of a player that I'm battling against."

Because Morgan missed more than three months last season while recovering from a dislocated thumb that he suffered on a stolen base attempt in mid-May, he followed up his month in the Majors with a stop in Arizona to play fall ball this past offseason.

While there, he wasn't given any specific guidance on what to work on, so, as a result, he decided to experiment with his game by having some fun at the plate.

"I figured I might as well go down there and have fun and try to drive the ball and work on a little more power," said Morgan, who finished AFL competition with a .258 average and 10 stolen bases in 24 games. "I worked on driving the ball a little bit, even though that's not part of my game."

Asked if he planned to implement that practice of becoming more of a power hitter into his game permanently, Morgan shook his head 'no'.

However, his time in Arizona wasn't all for fun and games. Morgan did gain valuable experience playing left field in Arizona since Pirates prospect Andrew McCutchen started in center for the pair's team.

The increased versatility simply gives Pirates manager John Russell even more freedom in constructing his lineup. Whether it's McLouth or Morgan who loses out on the starting spot, both have shown the ability to fill in at the corner outfield positions.

Looking even further into the future, Morgan's ability to adapt to left field would potentially give him the chance to remain in the Pirates outfield once McCutchen is ready for the big leagues.

"It doesn't bother me," said Morgan, who finished the AFL on a 10-game hitting streak, of playing in left. "As long as I'm playing and I can help out with my abilities to help the team, it doesn't matter where I'm at."

In the meantime, however, both of Morgan's eyes are centered on center field.

Spring Training invitees: In addition to the players on the team's current 40-man roster, the Pirates have issued Spring Training invites to an additional 24 players. Included in that group are 14 pitchers -- T.J. Beam, Adam Bernero, Hector Carrasco, Jesse Chavez, Elmer Dessens, Casey Fossum, Masumi Kuwata, Daniel Moskos, Brian Rogers, Marino Salas, Josh Sharpless, Mike Thompson and Jaret Wright; four catchers -- Raul Chavez, Michel Hernandez, Carlos Maldonado and Miguel Perez; five infielders -- Luis Cruz, Jose Macias, Luis Rivas, Jorge Velandia and Neil Walker; and outfielder McCutchen.