DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Pirates hired Jonathan Johnston in February 2020 to manage their short-season Class-A Morgantown affiliate, but the pandemic wiped out the entire minor-league season before he filled out his first lineup card.

Johnston finally made his managerial debut last year. By then, the landscape of the minor leagues had changed dramatically. All of the short-season and traditional rookie leagues were eliminated and replaced by the Arizona and Florida complex leagues.

Johnston is in his second season as manager of Low-A Bradenton. Most of the players are about 21 years old. The roster includes two teenagers — pitchers Anthony Solometo and Carlos Jiménez, both 19.

For all of them, Bradenton is their first experience playing in a full-season league. It’s a huge step up from the Florida Complex League (FCL).

“There’s a lot to learn,” Johnston said. “It’s a little bit different than the FCL. Yeah, you’re trying to win in the FCL, but here it’s different. It’s being under the lights for the first time, a lot of excitement, and trying to teach guys how to handle that through that season.”

Each FCL team plays about 50 games from mid-June through late August. Games begin at either 10 a.m. or noon and are played at minor-league spring training facilities. The spectators are only scouts, coaches and the occasional gull that touches down in the outfield grass.

“Complex League was something else, man,” Bradenton infielder Brenden Dixon said. “All of us were kind of like, ‘Man, is this what pro ball is like?’ There’s the Florida heat and guys are throwing really hard without really having an idea of where it’s going. It was learning curve, for sure, but it was fun.”

The crowds at Low-A games usually number only a few hundred, but the games are played at night in big-league spring training stadiums. Johnston said his players are generally well-prepared for full-season ball, but sounded wistful about the old short-season leagues.

“There’s some things that were taken care of in rookie ball — being under the lights, going through a 50-game season and playing every night — that were different than the FCL, where you’re not playing every night or even every day,” Johnston said. “There are some things players got exposed to there that maybe they don’t now in the FCL.”

The Bradenton roster includes only two top-30 prospects: Solometo (ranked No. 8 in the Pirates’ system by MLB Pipeline) and outfielder Rodolfo Nolasco (No. 23). A handful of notable prospects, including Bubba Chandler (third-round pick in 2021 draft) and Braylon Bishop (14th round, 2021), are still in the FCL.

“There’s always a process for every individual,” Johnston said. “I’m involved in conversations, knowing what to anticipate. Whatever comes to fruition depends on the process. Everybody’s anticipating those guys moving up and they will when it’s their time.”

Here is more news and notes from my time with Bradenton.

Solometo said he expects to be out for a couple of weeks after he experienced tightness in his lat during his last outing on June 16.

The left-hander felt the discomfort in the second inning of his start against Fort Myers (Twins). In the third, he issued a leadoff walk and hit the next batter with a pitch.

“It started getting real tight in there, but there wasn’t sharp pain or anything,” Solometo said. “Then (the tightness) started running through my whole arm. After I hit that batter, I felt the best thing to do was shut it down. It was more of a precautionary thing.”

Solometo is on the seven-day injured list. He is able to do light baseball activities, such as playing catch. A second-round pick last year, Solometo has made four outings (three starts) with Bradenton and is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He is averaging 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

When Solometo was promoted from the FCL, one of his first assignments was to get better at controlling the running game. He’s done that by keeping his walks in check (3.5 BB/9) and becoming more adept at holding base runners.

“He did all that immediately, which was impressive,” Johnston said. “That type of guy is gonna go places because he’s in tune to what’s going on. He’s got a great aptitude for the game.”

Right-hander Jack Hartman, 23, switched from infielder to pitcher three years ago at Appalachian State. The Pirates liked his potential and took him in the fourth round in 2020. He had Tommy John surgery three months after the draft, which has hampered his development.

“I haven’t experienced a normal spring training. I don’t even know what that is,” Hartman said. “I’m looking forward to that next year, hopefully.”

In seven games this season with Bradenton, Hartman has a 7.11 ERA and a 2.21 WHIP. He’s averaging 2.8 walks and 9.9 strikeouts per nine innings. At this point, putting up flashy stats isn’t as important as getting regular outings and staying healthy.

“I learned on the fly the last couple of years,” Hartman said. “Now, I’m trying to slow it down and really dig into the details of being a pitcher and not just a thrower.”

One of Dixon’s mentors is former NFL All-Pro safety Darren Woodson, whom Dixon affectionately calls “Mister D.” The two first met more than a decade ago, when Dixon, then 10 years old, was playing in a travel-team tournament against Woodson’s son Jaden.

“I was in a slump and I was in the batting cage,” Dixon said. “Mister D walked up to me and gave me some advice. He has been my guy ever since. Darren is kind of a second dad to me.”

Been a second dad to me since I was a little kid.. Has taught me many life lessons, and has played a huge part in my life!!! Let’s go! @darrenwoodson28 https://t.co/ecP6i9pfH5

— Brenden Dixon (@BrendenDixon_) August 16, 2021

A three-time Super Bowl winner, Woodson played his entire career (1992 to 2003) with Dallas and retired as the team’s all-time leading tackler. In 2015, he became the eighth defensive player inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

“One of the big things he’s always said is, ‘No matter what happens, good or bad, try to get 1 percent better every day,’” Dixon said. “That’s really stuck with me. He’s been a big role model in my life.”

Dixon, 21, was a 20th-round pick last year. Woodson hasn’t yet seen him play in the minors, but Dixon said Woodson might get to Florida before this season is over.

Randy Romero looks to have one of the better outfield arms in the system. On Thursday, he made a couple of fine throws against Dunedin (Blue Jays). With a runner on third and one out in the third inning, he snagged a deep fly ball in right field and fired a strike to the plate. The one-hop throw was on line, but catcher Grant Koch didn’t catch it and the runner scored.

Romero batted .252/.307/.338 last year with 15 stolen bases in the FCL. However, at 22 years old, he must vastly improve his .198/.228/.267 slash line this season if he wants to climb the ladder. The Pirates signed him in 2017 out of Mexico.

(Top photo of Brenden Dixon courtesy of the Pittsburgh Pirates)