Neil Walker: We're All Working To Get Pedro Alvarez Ready
BRADENTON (93-7 The Fan) – Pirates second baseman Neil Walker sat down with "The Fan Morning Show" at Spring Training in Bradenton this week to talk about getting ready for the 2015 season.
Walker praised the effort of Pedro Alvarez to get acclimated at first base.
"He's looked really good," Walker said. "Obviously, his work ethic is one thing that he's always going to have. From day one coming into camp, he's grabbed Nick Leyva and he's hit him already thousands of balls at first base- backhands, fronthands, slow rollers, balls to second, double play feeds, double play turns."
Walker says getting Alvarez comfortable has been a team effort.
"We've just really been there to support him," Walker said. "As a second baseman, I communicate a lot with the first baseman on bunt coverages over the course of the game, and pickoff plays, where we're going to be, the second baseman and shortstop on throws, and things like that."
Walker thinks that game action will be most beneficial for Alvarez's development at this point.
"I think the game experience is going to be the most important thing," Walker said. "That game experience at first base when everything kind of ratchets up a little bit is going to be something that's important for him, because he can't really replicate that in [batting practice] or in practice."
"The Fan Morning Show" will be broadcasting live from Bradenton all week long.
The interview can be heard here:
