Van Benschoten optioned to Triple-A

By MIKE HENRY
mhenry@bradenton.com

BRADENTON -- Pirates right-handed pitcher John Van Benschoten, the team's 2001 first-round draft pick, was optioned today to Triple-A Indianapolis.
The move leaves the Pirates with 39 players in camp, including 20 pitchers, four catchers, nine infielders and six outfielders.
The Pirates must trim the roster to 25 players before the March 31 regular-season opener in Atlanta.
The 27-year-old Van Benschoten had appeared in two spring training games, allowing five hits and five earned runs in five innings while striking out four and walking six.
Van Benschoten -- who missed all of the 2005 season recovering from right shoulder surgery -- started the 2007 season in Indianapolis, going 10-7 with a 2.56 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 109 innings.
His success did not translate upon being recalled in June and September to Pittsburgh, where he went 0-7 with a 10.15 ERA while making nine starts and appearing in 11 games.