Pirates send down Taillon, 10 other players

The Pirates trimmed their Spring Training roster Wednesday, as they optioned six players to Triple-A Indianapolis and reassigned five more to Minor League camp.

Among those headed to Minor League camp is right-hander Jameson Taillon, who pitched for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic. The 21-year-old Taillon, the Pirates' first-round selection in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, limited the United States to two runs (one earned) in four innings Sunday.

Pittsburgh also reassigned right-hander Erik Cordier, outfielder Darren Ford and infielders Matt Hague and Anderson Hernandez to Minor League camp. This spring, Hernandez had collected five hits in 12 at-bats (.417 average) and Hague had tallied eight hits in 22 at-bats (.364 average).

The Pirates optioned four right-handed pitchers -- Vic Black, Stolmy Pimentel, Hunter Strickland and Duke Welker -- to Indianapolis. The foursome will be joined by infielder Clint Robinson and outfielder Jerry Sands. Pittsburgh acquired both Sands and Pimentel as part of a package for closer Joel Hanrahan in a December trade with the Red Sox.