Altoona Watch: Mears ‘ecstatic’ for Arizona

ALTOONA, Pa. — Right-handed pitcher Nick Mears has been in the Pirates’ organization for a little more than a year and in that time has been nothing short of remarkable.

Mears was playing for the Wilmar Stingers of the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league, last year before being signed by Pittsburgh.

“He was sought after out of college by a lot of different teams,” Altoona manager Michael Ryan said. “He’s had a tough upbringing and tough past and those are the guys that work their tails off and people you root for.”

Now a year into his professional career, Mears is in Double-A and gearing up for action in the Arizona Fall League beginning Sept. 18.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Mears,…