An Altoona player Monday was named Eastern League player of the week after going 6 for 13 with two doubles, a triple, three home runs and 10 RBIs.

Judging by those numbers, one might think first baseman Brad Eldred had been sent back to the Class AA Curve from Class AAA Indianapolis. Or that outfielder Adam Hyzdu had resurfaced in Altoona.

Neither of those events happened.

The player honored was first baseman Josh Bonifay, who has been making a name for himself with the Curve for three seasons.

Perhaps someday Bonifay's uniform number will be retired by the Curve. Hyzdu's number was. Eldred's probably will be.

If nothing else, Bonifay has earned that honor because of his longevity with Altoona -- not that that was his goal.

By now, Bonifay, 26, expected to be in Class AAA or even the major leagues. It appears, however, his career has stalled.

Discouraging?

Not a bit.

"It doesn't discourage me because you see players you've played with, and a lot of them are getting shots in the big leagues," Bonifay said. "I've played in the same leagues. I've been on the same All-Star teams.

"You don't get discouraged. You just have to keep playing and putting up numbers. If you continue to put up numbers, somebody's got to find you a spot.

"There are always scouts in the stands. I know somebody's watching. And somebody else might have a plan for you, so, no, you don't get discouraged."

Plus, there's always what happened to Ray Sadler to provide inspiration.

Sadler, an outfielder, got his chance to play in the major leagues -- albeit briefly so far -- when the Pirates plucked him from Altoona two weeks ago after Craig Wilson's finger was injured.

"It just gives you hope," Bonifay said.

Bonifay, who started slowly this season because of a groin injury, is putting up decent numbers again for the Curve. In 23 games through Wednesday, he had a .280 batting average, 7 home runs and 26 RBIs in 82 at-bats.

If he continues that pace and doesn't get a promotion this season, there's always next year.

"I'm going to play until they take this jersey off my back," Bonifay said.

Thing is, next year that jersey might belong to another organization. Bonifay, son of former Pirates general manager Cam Bonifay, can be a minor-league free agent after this season.

"It's tough to say that I would ever leave the Pirates," Bonifay said. "I've been a Pirate since 1989 [when his father became scouting director]. I love the Pirates. I know the history.

"When you look back on that, you know the Pirates were successful and you just hope they can get back there. I've been a part of it for so long [that] I want to see them get back at that level."

Walker makes progress

Catcher Neil Walker, the Pirates' top draft pick a year ago, is off to a decent start in his first full professional season. A Pine-Richland High School graduate, he has a .272 batting average, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 23 RBIs and 23 runs scored after 39 games with Class A Hickory.

Jeff Banister, the Pirates' minor-league field coordinator and a former catcher, recently spent time with Hickory..

"Neil's progressing right along the lines we'd like him to," Banister said. "Offensively, he's showing the things we expected from him from both sides of the plate. He's hitting for some power.

"Defensively, he's using the athleticism I saw when he was in high school. He's starting to pick himself up to speed with professional pitchers. His throwing has been very good."

A "glove-to-glove" time of 2.0 seconds is considered average. Walker has been timed as quick as 1.95 seconds getting the ball from his glove to second base.

"For me, that's a big plus for him," Banister said. "I thought one of the toughest things for him to do would be to utilize his footwork and speed himself up to be a sub-2.0 thrower.

"When you see that athleticism he has behind the plate, it gives him a specialness. I mean, this kid can run and throw. He's quick behind the plate. He can block a ball and get up and recover and shut down the guy trying to take the extra base."

A shortstop in the making

Keep your eye on Javier Guzman, 21, a shortstop playing for Class A Lynchburg.

Guzman, who signed with the Pirates as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic Aug. 19, 2000, is hitting .313 with three home runs, 24 RBIs, 25 runs scored, 10 stolen bases and 15 errors in 40 games.

"He's probably going to be an exciting player because he can run," said Gary Redus, the Pirates' roving base-running and outfield instructor. "He's going to make errors because he can get to balls that most shortstops can't get to. That's just something he's going to work out. He always makes spectacular plays.""

Guzman played for Class A Hickory last season and batted .306 with 2 home runs, 63 RBIs, 31 stolen bases and 40 errors in 124 games.

Play him anywhere

Versatile Yurendell DeCaster could be with the Pirates by next season -- at some position. The 25-year-old native of Curacao -- Andruw Jones also is from Curacao -- can play all three outfield positions, first base, second base and third base.

"I think his position is third base -- or first base," said Hensley Meulens, the Indianapolis hitting instructor who was the first player from Curacao to reach the majors in 1989 with the New York Yankees. "But [his versatility] is a great asset for him. It's good for people to know he can play different positions because I think he has the potential to hit in the big leagues."

In 29 games for Indianapolis, the right-handed batting DeCaster has a .295 batting average, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs and 12 RBIs.

"He's a tremendous package of power," Indianapolis manager Trent Jewett said. "He has average or better speed. He has an average or better throwing arm. His overall athletic ability is above average. He has tremendous demeanor.

"I'm very, very high on him because I think it's a great package. You just look at him in his uniform. He looks like a big-leaguer to me."