SAN DIEGO -- Alika Wllliams was heading to the airport at Indianapolis Monday night whenever he got a call from his manager, Miguel Perez. Perez asked if Williams had any family in San Diego. He did, and is a graduate of the close by Rancho Bernardo high school.
That worked out nicely, because Williams was going to be jumping on a plane at the airport to join the Pirates.
"Complete surprise," a smiling Williams said at his locker at PETCO Park Tuesday.
It wasn't much of a surprise on the Pirates end, though, after Tucupita Marcano exited Monday's game with a right knee ligament injury.