Morgan

PITTSBURGH— September callups in major league baseball usually mean additional pinch-hitting help for the big club.

For the Pirates, they've meant two everyday starters — at least for the time being.

Steve Pearce and Nyjer Morgan have become unlikely contributors to some of the Pirates

late-season success.

Pearce, 24, began this season as a first baseman at Class ALynchburg. Morgan, 27, a center fielder at Class AAAIndianapolis, missed three months of the current campaign because of a dislocated thumb.

Because of injuries to Pirates outfielders Xavier Nady and Chris Duffy, Pearce and Morgan have found regular duty in the majors.

"All I wanted to do was make a dent in the organization this year,"Pearce said. "That was my goal. Sometimes, I can't believe I'm here."

He's not only here — he's producing here.

Entering Monday night's game in San Diego, Pearce was hitting .304 (14-for-46) with four doubles, a triple and only six strikeouts as the Pirates' right fielder.

Pearce hit 11 home runs early in the season at Lynchburg. In 81 games with Class AAAltoona, he hit .334 with 14 homers and 72 RBI. With Indianapolis, Pearce batted .320 with six homers and 17 RBI.

At the time of his Sept. 1 promotion to the Pirates, he was sixth in all of minor league baseball with 31 home runs, third with 113 RBIand 303 total bases.

"This has happened so fast, it hasn't sunk in yet,"Pearce said. "When they asked me to get some work in the outfield in Triple-A, I figured I could get up here quicker.

"Adam LaRoche is an awesome first baseman. If my going to the outfield is good for the team, it's good for me."

Pearce has a chance to hit above .300 in Class A, AA, AAA and the big leagues, all in one season."Once you're in a groove, you just see the ball and hit it," he said. "It doesn't matter what ballpark you're in or who's out there pitching it to you."Morgan's bat has not been as loud. A recent 0-for-9 skid dropped his average to .214, but he's started nine straight games in center field, has made a number of spectacular catches and stole his first major league base over the weekend in Houston."I'm just up here having fun,"Morgan said. "There's no pressure on me to do anything and I'm taking advantage of it."Morgan attempts to bunt for a hit nearly once a game and has just missed reaching base that way a number of times."Bunting is a big part of my game,"he said. "I'm not gonna scare anybody with my power. Find a way to get on base and be a pest once I get there. That's what I want to do."Morgan had only six extra-base hits — four doubles and two triples — among his 50- hits this year in Class AAA. Despite missing three months of playing time, his 26 stolen bases ranked seventh in the International League."As a player, you're going to get an opportunity to show your wares at some point, and these two kids are getting that,"Pirate manager Jim Tracy said. "They've been making a statement out there."Both of them have proven they could have been up here sooner. If Nyjer didn't get hurt, he probably would have been here sooner. Players like him help you win games."The only thing Pearce hasn't done with the Pirates yet is hit the ball over the fence.That day will come."He's playing like he belongs in the big leagues,"Tracy admitted. "That kid steps in the box believing he can hit anybody and nobody is going to tell him differently."

Pearce