When outfielder Gregory Polanco made his Major League debut in 2014, the Pirates were playoff contenders, though it helped they had such veterans as Andrew McCutchen, Neil Walker and Gerrit Cole. Six years later, Pittsburgh is a much younger club, one that is not expected to be in the postseason in October.

Polanco is the last man standing from those postseason clubs. But as he put it, he is happy to report to Spring Training healthy and playing the game that he loves. He said that contrary to a published report, he never fractured his right wrist while playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic this past offseason.

“There was a small flare in my wrist bone, but nothing else. I kept swinging, doing everything that I was doing,” Polanco said. “But I never broke or fractured anything in my wrist. I kept playing because it wasn’t that bad. I needed to rest. … I’m good now.”

Polanco, 29, hasn’t been injury-free since 2018, when he drove in a team-leading 81 runs. He spent most of 2019 on the injured list because of shoulder problems. Last season was arguably his worst. He tested positive for COVID-19 in July, and when he returned to action, he was not productive at the plate, going 24-for-157 with 22 RBIs.

“It has been tough the last couple of years for me because of my health,” he said. “But everything happens for a reason. I’m here now. I’m healthy now. I’m 100 percent. I’m enjoying every moment, because I’m taking nothing for granted.

"I’ve been through some serious injuries. In this game, you never know when it’s your last game. So I’m not taking anything for granted. Right now I’m just having fun, because this is what I love. I feel happy now. I’m able to go with the whole team, just practice, swing, run and everything. I’m not in the training room where you are on a different schedule.”

Polanco looks to make more contact when he is in the batter’s box. The way he describes it, he wants to keep his eye on the ball a lot longer and not turn his head quickly like he did last year.

“I’m not trying to do too much right now,” he said. “I’m trying to see the ball as long as I can. I’m not changing anything like my swing, because my swing has been good. I was getting out of the zone too [quickly].”

Reynolds looking to make comeback

Outfielder Bryan Reynolds believes he is better than the .189 hitter he was last year, and he doesn't want to be judged on what he did in 2020's 60-game, pandemic-shortened season. With this year expected to have a full 162-game schedule, he expects his stats to be different. He acknowledged that his timing was off and that he didn't see the ball well last year.

“I can’t control what opinions people have of me. I know the kind of player that I am,” Reynolds said. “I know the kind of player I’m going to be. I have all the confidence in the world in myself. We’ll go there and have a nice full season and win some games.”

Reynolds had a great rookie year with Pittsburgh in 2019, hitting .314 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs. He finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting that year.

Worth noting

• Manager Derek Shelton said the Pirates needed outfield depth, so he was pleased the team acquired Dustin Fowler from the Athletics in exchange for cash. Fowler is expected to play the corner outfield spots and may play a few innings in center.

• Infielder Adam Frazier didn't practice defense on Thursday because of a minor injury, according to Shelton, although he was able to hit in the cage. “He just stayed off his feet,” Shelton said.