The Pirates will build a new baseball academy in the Dominican Republic, the first step toward the team's plan to upgrade its long-lacking Latin American operations.

Dennis DaPra, the Pirates' senior vice president who oversees operations at PNC Park, returned this past weekend from a three-day trip to that country in which he visited several prospective sites for a facility to replace the team's outmoded one. DaPra will be responsible for the land purchase and construction.

"Dennis is driving that project forward," principal owner Bob Nutting said. "It's a project I very much believe in, and I feel very good about having that in the hands of a competent executive in Dennis."

Cost of the project has not been determined.

Reliever Salomon Torres, who recently built two academies in his homeland that are used by other Major League Baseball teams, estimated it will take at least $3 million. The New York Mets' new facility, an unusually lavish place that includes a golf course, cost $7.5 million.

Nutting was convinced of the need to build a new facility after flying to the Dominican Republic in May and examining the current one.

Duke, Torres return

The Pirates reinstated pitchers Torres and Zach Duke from the disabled list and had each available out of the bullpen last night against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Each had an elbow ailment. Duke had not pitched since June 28, Torres since Aug. 20.

The Pirates placed outfielder Ryan Doumit on the 60-day disabled list, as expected, to clear space on the 40-man roster for Duke. Doumit's MRI taken late Monday revealed a high ankle sprain that was "not as bad" as what the Pirates' doctors initially thought, manager Jim Tracy said. Doumit will rehabilitate in Bradenton, Fla.

Buried treasure

Right fielder Xavier Nady said he had his first headache-free day since sustaining his concussion a week ago and predicted he could play this weekend.

Paul Maholm pitched a bullpen session and is a possibility -- far from firm -- to start Sunday in Houston.

On the sixth anniversary of 9/11, a giant American flag was unfurled in PNC Park's outfield before the game as "God Bless America" was sung. Before that, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl read a proclamation honoring the city's police, fire and emergency workers.