Pirates GM Neal Huntington reiterated his intention to take Kang north with the team as part of the Opening Day roster. "We like the bat speed, we love the power," Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "We like what he's been able to do defensive

Pirates GM Neal Huntington reiterated his intention to take Kang north with the team as part of the Opening Day roster. "We like the bat speed, we love the power," Huntington told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "We like what he's been able to do defensively at short and third."

Analysis:

Kang went 1-for-3 with a triple Friday, raising his batting average to .133 in 30 spring at-bats. "We've seen some really good things in (fewer) than 30 plate appearances," Huntington said. "The sample size is ridiculously small. If he hits three of the balls he's hit on days when the wind is blowing out instead of blowing in, we're talking about a very different story right now because he'd be a guy who's hit four home runs instead of one." It's hard to see where Kang will see much action with Josh Harrison set at third base and Jordy Mercer at shortstop. The decision to keep an overmatched Kang on the Opening Day roster is a curious one, at the least.