The Pirates announced last week that flashy shortstop Jack Wilson and the club agreed to a new three-year contract
That ensures that the Bucs’ talented middle infield tandem of Wilson and former Curve star Jose Castillo will be wowing Pirates fans with their highlight reel double plays through to the 2008 season in the Major Leagues

Behind Wilson and Castillo on the organizational depth chart are second baseman Craig Stansberry and shortstop Javier Guzman, who spent most of the 2005 season playing together at both Class-A Lynchburg and Altoona and forming a stellar double play combo in their own right
While it doesn’t appear that any opportunities will be opening up at the major league level with the Pirates anytime soon, both Stansberry and Guzman were added to the Bucs’ 40-man roster this off-season and are slated to open the season back in Altoona
While it’s possible that one or both of the duo could advance to Triple-A during the year, the Pirates seemingly have no need to rush either of them and that should put a smile on the face of Curve pitchers

With Stansberry and Guzman set to anchor the middle of the Curve infield at the outset of the season, two more middle infielders will be looking forward to another shot at Double-A
Both Brandon Chaves and Taber Lee began the ’05 season with the Curve, but neither performed well at the plate and were demoted to Lynchburg before the All-Star Break
Both are expected to return to Altoona in 2006, but will be relegated to bench duty

The corner infield positions are anyone’s guess at this point, though the Curve offense should receive a boost from the return of 2003 fan favorite Brett Roneberg
The Australian native hit .281 with 10 home runs and 61 RBI as a first baseman and outfielder for Altoona in ’03 and will be looking to get back on track again with the Curve in 2006 after sitting out the entire season a year ago with a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder
Expect Roneberg, who has had success in the Eastern League in the past with Harrisburg and Portland, to be a key to the club’s offense from the first base position

At third base, the likely everyday player is former Reading Phillies’ All-Star Travis Chapman
Chapman was leading the Eastern League in hitting into the month of July in 2002 and, like Roneberg, is looking forward to playing injury free for the first time in three seasons
The 27-year old reached the major leagues with the Phillies in 2003 but has been sidetracked because of shoulder injuries each of the past two seasons

Another strong possibility is former Erie third baseman Brant Ust
Ust spent the entire 2004 campaign at Triple-A in the Detroit system, but was released by Detroit and played all of 2005 at the Single-A level in the Red Sox’ chain

Below is a position-by-position look at each Curve infield spot entering the season

FIRST BASE

LIKELY STARTER - Brett Roneberg
The 11-year veteran played mostly in the outfield for the Eastern League’s Portland Sea Dogs in 2004, but he is also very strong at first base
He hit a career-high 17 homers for Portland in ’04, a stat which will be hard to duplicate in Blair County Ballpark’s cavernous right field
OFF THE BENCH
While he won’t necessarily be a backup, expect to see 13-year minor league veteran Simon Pond at first base for the Curve on occasion
Pond, a native of Canada who toiled for ten minor league seasons before opening the 2004 campaign in the major leagues with Toronto, is no stranger to the Eastern League, having spent time with Akron and New Haven before appearing in 110 games with Bowie last season
He will play in the outfield for the Curve when he’s not at first base, giving manager Tim Leiper a solid middle-of-the-lineup bat
WHO’S NEXT?
Brad Rea wasn’t drafted out of the University of Pittsburgh and spent his first pro season playing in the independent Frontier League
However, the Pittsburgh native has been solid since signing with his hometown Pirates in 2003 and had a good season with Lynchburg in 2005
He’ll return to the Hillcats to open this season, but could see his first Double-A action if Roneberg or Pond move up to Triple-A

SECOND BASE

LIKELY STARTER - Craig Stansberry
While he received most of his accolades entering last season for his fielding, the 24-year old showed an unexpected power stroke in 2005, connecting for 21 home runs between Lynchburg and Altoona - 18 of those coming with the Curve
He only hit .238 for Altoona, so he’ll look to improve his average at the plate before getting a chance to advance to Triple-A
OFF THE BENCH
Taber Lee is likely to spell Stansberry at second base, though it’s unlikely it will happen more than once a week
As a switch-hitter, Lee is a great option for Leiper in late-inning pinch-hit situations, particularly National League games
Only one problem - the Curve play just three of their first 27 games against NL affiliates, meaning he’ll have to hope for some DH duty
WHO’S NEXT?
Justin Harris starred for the University of South Carolina as a utility player in the 2002 and ’03 College World Series and was drafted by the Pirates in the 16th round of the 2003 draft
He’s a versatile player who has spent time at each defensive position except catcher over his first three pro seasons
The Pirates will likely make him the everyday second baseman at Lynchburg with a slight chance to move up to Double-A during the season

SHORTSTOP

LIKELY STARTER - Javier Guzman
The soon-to-be 24-year old is your typical young shortstop, making the impossible play look easy while sometimes struggling with the routine play
The Pirates added him to their 40-man roster this winter, so he’ll be a priority start for Tim Leiper, meaning he’ll be in the lineup most games
He and Stansberry should form one of the top double play combos in the Eastern League
OFF THE BENCH
Brandon Chaves has opened each of the past two seasons as the Curve’s starting shortstop, a feat which was impressive last season because of his recovery from a torn ACL in his left knee that ended his 2004 season
He’s been passed on the Pirates’ organizational depth chart and will be relegated to spot duty behind Guzman
WHO’S NEXT?
While it’s unlikely that he’ll advance to Altoona this season, young shortstop Brian Bixler should be the Curve’s everyday shortstop in 2007
The Pirates’ 2nd round pick in the 2004 draft was known for a strong bat at Eastern Michigan University, where he finished second in the country with a .453 average during his junior season
He’ll either start at Hickory or Lynchburg this season

THIRD BASE

LIKELY STARTER- Travis Chapman gets the edge of Brant Ust in a battle of two minor league free agent signees
Chapman, who was an E.L. All-Star with Reading in 2002, was considered a top prospect in the Phillies’ chain before injuries cut down his last two seasons
His reliable bat should help the Curve offense throughout the season and with Jose Bautista expected to spend the entire season with Indianapolis, there’s no reason to think Chapman won’t be here all year
OFF THE BENCH
Ust was named the Eastern League’s “Best Defensive Third Baseman” in 2001 with Erie and he fell all the way from Triple-A in 2004 to Single-A in 2005
He’ll have a lot to prove in a new organization and could earn more playing time as the season unfolds
WHO’S NEXT
The Pirates have a huge hole in the organization at third base, but the fortunate thing is that Bautista is ready to jump into action in Pittsburgh if Joe Randa is injured or traded
The system has no third basemen below Double-A that can even be considered marginal prospects
One possible addition to the Curve during the season is 24-year old Vince Rooi (pronounced “ROY”)
The native of Amsterdam, Netherlands spent his first seven seasons in the Expos/Nationals’ organization, but rarely hit for average