PHILADELPHIA — The Pirates signed Corey Hart to a one-year, $2.5 million deal this offseason expecting he would start at first base when they faced a left-handed starter, considering Hart’s .288/.360/.501 career batting line against left-handers.
And he has started against every left-hander to date, including Wednesday night with Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels on the mound. But the Pirates have faced a left-handed starter just four times this season, and Hart has started only six times.
Hart, 33, hit safely three times in his first six at-bats but took a 2-for-20 slump into the game. He said it has been hard to find a rhythm working primarily as a pinch-hitter.
“It can make it a little difficult,” he said. “But we’re all professionals, so you try to make sure you stay ready and adjust. It’s tough when you don’t see that many [at-bats], but you’ve got to find a way to get it done.”
At this point, manager Clint Hurdle said, Hart has been at the mercy of the schedule, but that should even out. Another factor working against Hart has been the success of other bench players. Sean Rodriguez took a team-high .382 average into the game, and Jung Ho Kang surged recently to .309.
“As a bench guy, you’ve got to find a way to get into a rhythm and find something that works,” Hart said. “We’ve had Sean and Kanger find a way, so the other guys have to battle it out and find a way to be consistent.”
Rodriguez started at first Wednesday with Hart in right. Why not have Rodriguez, the faster and younger player, roam the outfield at Citizens Bank Park?
“This [park] has the fastest infield east of the West Coast,” Hurdle said. “You’ve got to pick which spot you want to put your best defender. I’m picking first base to put Rodriguez at.”
Taillon to throw
Right-hander Jameson Taillon, the No. 2 pick in the 2010 draft, will throw an inning today at extended spring training, his first live game action since Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery 13 months ago.
“Our entire organization is excited for him,” Hurdle said. “He’s worked extremely hard. There have been days … when he was pushing that sled around at Pirate City and just doing so much extensive work, physical work to keep his mind where it needed to be because he wasn’t able to throw a ball.”
Starters on the mend
Left-hander Clayton Richard, the Pirates’ latest reclamation project, threw five scoreless innings Wednesday in his first start at Class AAA Indianapolis, allowing four hits and two walks and striking out four.
Right-hander Charlie Morton, rehabbing from offseason hip surgery, will start against Norfolk today.
Stephen J. Nesbitt: snesbitt@post-gazette.com and Twitter @stephenjnesbitt.
First Published: May 14, 2015, 4:00 a.m.