The Pittsburgh Pirates fell 8-4 to the Toronto Blue Jays in Grapefruit League play Monday. Roansy Contreras made his first start of the spring, allowing four hits and two runs over two innings. The Pirates 2022 top overall draft pick Temarr Johnson hit two home runs and drove in three. He will likely start his season at Double-A Altoona.
The Pirates host Atlanta today at 1:05pm at LECOM Park in Bradenton.
Former Pirates pitcher Jose DeLeon has passed away at the age of 63. DeLeon was a Pirates draft pick who made his major league debut in 1983. The Pirates traded DeLeon to the Chicago White Sox in 1986 in the deal that brought Bobby Bonilla to Pittsburgh. DeLeon went on to lead the National League with 201 strikeouts in 1989 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He tied for the league lead in losses with 19 twice, with the Pirates in 1985 and with the Cards in 1990.