BRADENTON, Fla. - Humberto Cota is grateful to be getting a second chance with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The 24-year-old backup catcher didn't think he would be back after he was suspended without pay last year for refusing to play for Class AAA Nashville in the Pacific Coast League playoffs.

But the Pirates protected Cota on the 40-man roster in November and will give him a chance to be Jason Kendall's backup.

"It caught me by surprise," Cota said. "I want to thank the Pirates for believing in me. I don't want to let them down this spring."

Cota decided not to play for Nashville because he felt a left hand injury hadn't healed sufficiently. The Pirates were upset because Cota's decision came 11 days after he completed a one-month stint with the major-league team.

"You'd like to see him stick it out and play," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "But there are different factors that went to it. I don't know them all."

Cota had surgery Jan. 8, 2003, and he said the injury never healed sufficiently during the season.

Frustrated he wasn't swinging the bat like he did in 2001 when he was the organization's minor league player of the year, Cota talked with his agent and decided to end his season. He finished with a career-low .205 batting average in 62 games for Nashville.

"I was hurting a lot," Cota said. "I tried to play tough, but it didn't work out."

Cota thought time off would help him get healthier for the winter league season.

"I tried to show the Pirates organization that I didn't go home for nothing," he said. "I went down there and tried to get back in my old shape, the way I'm used to playing."

Cota said he reported to spring training in the best shape of his career. More importantly, he doesn't feel any pain in his surgically repaired hand.

"I want to show the Pirates I really do care a lot," Cota said. "I came in here like nothing happened. I put it in the back of my head and am going forward."

McClendon said Cota will get a fresh start.

"The important thing is for him to go out and play well," he said. "He has to compete."

Cota is out of minor-league options and could be lost on waivers if he doesn't make the team. The Pirates used Craig Wilson as Kendall's backup last season and could do that again.