Ferndale grad, Pirates minor-leaguer Trey McGough stays ready during baseball hiatus

JOHNSTOWN — Ferndale High School grad, now Pittsburgh Pirates minor-leaguer Trey McGough is back in Johnstown.

But, this isn't what he had planned, at the beginning of the season. COVID-19 forced Major League Baseball to shut down all activities, including minor-league spring training camps.

"I was at an all-time high for my first spring training," McGough said. "Now, it's about a month and half--two months later--and we're still not there."

Some professional sports leagues are starting to make a return to action. But, Major League Baseball owners and players haven't come to an agreement about a return-to-play plan.

In March, the two sides agreed on players receiving prorated salaries, if the league played a shortened season.

Since that agreement, the owners have changed their tune. They are proposing players take pay cuts. But, the players aren't interested in forfeiting more of their salaries. This standoff affects minor-league players. They're still waiting to hear how a shortened MLB season will change the MiLB season.

"It's strictly a business," McGough said. "Not really worried about the future."

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