BRADENTON, Fla. -- Andrew McCutchen needed only one at-bat to make a glowing first impression in his first game action in a Pirates uniform.

In the spring's first intrasquad scrimmage yesterday at McKechnie Field, McCutchen, the team's first-round draft pick last summer, exhibited trademark patience by taking the first three pitches he saw from reliever Giovanni Carrara. He liked the fourth, and he lined it into center field for an RBI single.

It would be the only at-bat for McCutchen, 19, and it came against a pitcher 18 years his elder.

"It felt very good to be part of that," McCutchen said. "To get a hit and an RBI, it just let me know I can handle this."

As if to underscore that he was the only teenager in camp, though, McCutchen was picked off second by Carrara.

"The umpire was kind of in my way," McCutchen said. "I should have told him to scoot over."

McCutchen will open the season at Class A Hickory, but he was invited to major-league camp to experience the environment.

"It's more baseball at a higher level with more pressure than he's probably ever had," general manager Dave Littlefield said. "He's facing a big-league staff, better stuff, better velocity ... as a package, that's pressure."

Bautista, Gerut shine
The standout of the three-inning scrimmage, which ended in a 1-1 draw, was third baseman Jose Bautista, who made two sensational plays ranging to his right.

Outfielder Jody Gerut, playing for the first time since Aug. 10 because of a recovery from knee surgery, homered to right against Nerio Rodriguez in his first at-bat.

No update on Wells
Starter Kip Wells did not return to the Pirates' fold, and Littlefield said the team had not received word regarding the next course of action to address a blood clot near Wells' right arm.

Buried treasure
Many more regulars will be used in the exhibition at 12:05 p.m. today against Manatee Community College. Oliver Perez will start, and Salomon Torres, Damaso Marte, Jorge Vasquez, Jonah Bayliss and Matt Capps will enter in relief.

Ryan Vogelsong will start the Grapefruit League opener tomorrow against Washington in Viera, Fla. Zach Duke will start the next day in the home opener, also against the Nationals.

The Pirates yesterday topped 10,000 season tickets in sales, as measured in full-season equivalents.

Kevin McClatchy, the team's managing general partner, addressed the team before its workout yesterday morning.