PITTSBURGH -- The news became real to Austin Meadows on Thursday night, when he received a text message from Kimera Bartee. The Pirates' first-base coach told Meadows that the time had come, that he was coming to Pittsburgh to help a first-place team continue to win games.
It hit him again on Friday. Meadows' mother, Staci, sent him a picture from outside PNC Park. The Pirates had hung a banner of Meadows, wearing his white No. 17 Pirates jersey, between those of Felipe Vazquez and Josh Harrison. The reality of it all set in on Friday afternoon, when he found his locker between Corey Dickerson and Jordy Mercer in the Pirates' clubhouse.