Four cut; Rivas selected

By MIKE HENRY
mhenry@bradenton.com

BRADENTON -- Infielder Luis Rivas, the biggest surprise of Pittsburgh's spring-training camp, was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis to be added to the Pirates' 40-man roster, general manager Neal Huntington announced this morning.
The move makes it nearly certain Rivas will be on the Opening Day roster when the team faces the Braves in Atlanta on Monday.
To make room for Rivas on the 40-man roster, the Pirates designated right-handed pitcher Jonah Bayliss for assignment. Bayliss, who is out of options, could go to Indianapolis if he clears waivers.
Bayliss was 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA and two strikeouts in six spring appearances.
Also cut from the major-league camp were outfielder Kevin Thompson, who was optioned to Indianapolis, and pitchers Casey Fossum and Elmer Dessens, who were reassigned to minor-league camp.
The Pirates now have 33 players in camp -- 17 pitchers, two catchers, nine infielders and five outfielders.
Rivas is batting .348 this spring with a team-high 16 hits and has five doubles, a triple and two stolen bases. He has struck out only twice in 46 at-bats and has a .412 on-base percentage. He has made only one error.
Signed as a minor-league free agent in December, the 28-year-old Rivas last played a full major-league season in 2004 with the Twins. He made four late-season appearances with the Indians last season after batting .263 with 11 home runs for Triple-A Buffalo, where he made 59 appearances at shortstop and 49 at second base.
Chances are he will start at second base next week if Freddy Sanchez's ailing shoulder is still an issue. "Our thought is Freddy should be ready to go, but heaven forbid he has a setback -- we have a nice option sitting there in Luis Rivas," Huntington said.
"Earlier in his career, Luis was an aggressive early-count hitter who has really matured and begun to work deeper in counts," Huntington said. "He's begun to realize what type of hitter he is.
"He's leaner and more athletic than he was with Cleveland a year ago, and as a result, he has improved his ability to play shortstop. He's made every play we've asked him to so far this spring, and he's swung the bat better than anticipated."
Huntington said Rivas "has put himself in a great position" to be part of the 25-man roster when the Pirates break camp.
"It's a new beginning right now," said Rivas, who said the minor hitting adjustments he made this spring are paying off. "It was kind of hard being in Triple-A the last two years, but I just told myself to keep working hard and I would get back.
"I feel more comfortable. I trust that I can do anything they ask," Rivas said.
Thompson was batting .263 with three doubles and six RBIs.
Fossum was 1-2 with an 11.25 ERA. Dessens, limited early this spring with a lower back strain, allowed two hits and no runs in 2 1/3 innings.