BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Four months removed from offseason hip surgery, Pirates starter Charlie Morton is in camp with his teammates, he’s throwing without limitations, and he’s as eager as anyone to see this new-look team take the field.
Morton, 28, who went 10-10 with a 3.83 ERA and 110 strikeouts last season, will likely be Pittsburgh’s fifth starter, which means he has until the middle of April to be at full strength.
But for now, he’s pleased with his progress.
“If the ball is coming out easy, with minimal effort, with life, then I know,” Morton said. “If I can throw strikes, for the most part, and feel natural, and not force anything, that’s about where I want to be.”
