Pirates confirm Altoona as alternate spring site

The Pirates confirmed Thursday that they are going to use Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of their Class AA affiliate Altoona Curve, as an alternate training facility for the 2020 season.

This will be the home for the team's "taxi squad" players.

“The Pirates organization is appreciative of the long-standing relationship we have had for over two decades with the Altoona Curve,” Ben Cherington said in the press release. “The people, proximity, along with the first-class facility, makes Peoples Natural Gas Field an ideal choice to safely host our alternate training site for the upcoming season.”

DK Pittsburgh Sports reported earlier this week that Altoona was the favorite to be the Pirates' secondary site.

Each team needs to establish a second spring training site within 100 miles of their home stadium. Peoples Natural Gas Field is located 96 miles from PNC Park.

Players and members of the Pirates' player development staff will work out at PNG Field through the entire season.

“The Curve and Pirates have shared a remarkable relationship since 1999,” Curve general manager Derek Martin said. “Being chosen as the alternate training facility really reinforces the strength of that relationship. Being 90 miles from PNC Park, Altoona is a great location to allow the Pirates to get a player to Pittsburgh, or wherever they need to get to, quickly and safely.”

Peoples Natural Gas Field has two sets of bullpens and a playing field to use outdoors, plus two indoor batting tunnels and mounds inside those tunnels. The facility also has athletic and training rooms at the players' disposal.

Each team will be allowed to have a pool of 60 players between their major-league roster and taxi squad to use this season. Teams have to submit to the league which 60 players they will use by June 28.