The Pittsburgh Pirates Winter Caravan is coming to Butler for the second consecutive year.

Pirates players and officials will be on hand for a luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at the Butler County Community College's Convocation Center.

Players scheduled to attend include shortstop Jack Wilson, third baseman Freddy Sanchez and pitcher Mike Gonzalez. Pitching coach Jim Colborn, general manager Dave Littlefield, broadcasters Lanny Frattare and John Wehner also will be in attendance.

The Pirate Parrot and Sauerkraut Saul will be entertaining the crowd as well.

"There's been a lot of buzz about the Pirates lately," said Dan Hart, the club's assistant media relations director and a Seneca Valley graduate. "Fans were excited and optimistic about the caravan at this time last year.

"If you look at the moves that have been made this off-season, there's even more optimism."

Since the end of last season, the Pirates have hired a new manager in Jim Tracy, who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to a division title in 2004, and assembled a new coaching staff.

The team traded for all-star first baseman and Upper St. Clair product Sean Casey, and signed free agents Roberto Hernandez (relief pitcher), Joe Randa (third baseman) and Jeromy Burnitz (right fielder).

"Hernandez solidifies the bullpen, Burnitz gives us power and is a good right fielder and Randa was one of the most popular Pirates back in 1997," Hart said.

Randa batted .302 in his only year with the team as the Pirates stayed in the division race until the final weekend. He was lost to the expansion draft that off-season.

The Pirates Caravan visits 27 communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland from Jan. 16 through Feb. 3.

Its stop in Butler is sponsored by the Butler Eagle, with help from the Butler Rotary Club. Fewer than 20 tickets for the luncheon remain and can be purchased at the Butler Eagle Monday.

Last year's Pirates Caravan stop in Butler was a sellout and it appears this one will follow suit.

"We've gotten tremendous turnouts up there," Hart said.

Fans attending the luncheon will have the opportunity to buy tickets for the April 10 home opener against the Dodgers at PNC Park. Fans also will have the opportunity to win prizes as well.

Tickets for the 2006 All-Star Game, slated for PNC Park in July, will not be available at the luncheon.

"The caravan is a great way for our players to interact with the fans," said Pirates CEO and managing general partner Kevin McClatchy in a prepared statement. "It also gives our fans the opportunity to talk baseball with our players and coaches and wish them well before they head off to spring training."