Peter Diana, Post-Gazette The past and the future: Pirates first baseman Sean Casey (left) shares a laugh with Pirates Hall of Famer Bill Mazeroski at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, Fla., during the taping of a commercial that will be aired during Fox game telecasts. Click photo for larger image.

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Salomon Torres is not the Pirates' most experienced player, nor the most outspoken. But he unmistakably is claiming a role as a leader on this edition of the team.

"I've always been this way," Torres said. "When I was in Little League, my coach named me captain to keep the other children in line. I never liked to be a burden, but I always liked to help. I want to be there for my teammates. Because of my experience and faith, I feel I have a lot to offer."

Torres, a deeply religious man and one of the clubhouse's warmest personalities, has been seen advising teammates across the diamonds of Pirate City in the past week. That took center stage Tuesday when he addressed all of the pitchers for roughly 20 minutes in one of the outfields.

His sermon ranged from drawing inspiration from the Steelers to the pressures of opening day to simple matters of what he calls "that special confidence" a pitcher can gain from camaraderie.

"We're trying to make everyone comfortable enough to share what they believe or to ask questions of others," he said. "You're never by yourself, even when you're on the mound. Everything you get from the group is out there with you. That's how we all need to think. We need to build ourselves into being a team."

Torres oversaw another brand of teamwork this offseason, when he built a baseball academy in his native Dominican Republic. He fully funded, planned and supervised construction of the complex, which includes a two-story main building, two fields, batting cages, bullpen mounds and an exercise room.

Work was done in December, and the finishing touch came Feb. 6 when the Texas Rangers signed a seven-year contract to use the facility to help establish a presence with prospects in that hotbed of talent. Rangers owner Tom Hicks and manager Buck Showalter were among 200 attending the opening ceremony.

"That day was a great experience, a dream come true," Torres said. "Everyone's been listening to me talk about this for more than a year, and we finally got it up. I think it's one of the best academies in all of Latin America, and I'm proud the Rangers came to us."

Not yet closing time

Even though the Pirates have a fledgling closer in Mike Gonzalez, manager Jim Tracy is not planning to use him in ninth-inning situations until late in the Grapefruit League schedule. Maybe not then, either.

Tracy's reasoning is common in the exhibition season: For the early portion, relievers are doing little more than stretching out their arms. In the later portion, the best chance of facing major-league hitters comes before starters are getting yanked in the seventh or eighth innings.

"We'll adjust as we see fit," Tracy said. "But Mike won't necessarily be pitching the ninth."

Buried treasure

The Pirates took their first live batting practice yesterday as part of a two-hour workout under thick clouds and brisk winds. Six pitchers participated, including Sean Burnett and Roberto Hernandez. Many more are expected to throw today.

Starter John Van Benschoten, kept off the mound since Feb. 15 because of stiffness in his right shoulder, was limited to a 60-foot long-tossing session for a second consecutive day. He had been expected to extend to 90 feet yesterday.

Baseball America's list of the sport's top 100 prospects, in the magazine's new edition, includes three Pirates: catcher Neil Walker (No. 43), outfielder Andrew McCutchen (No. 50) and starter Tom Gorzelanny (No. 95).