PITTSBURGH -- You might have missed it, but the Chicago Cubs promoted 20-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro on Friday morning. A few hours later, the kid had a triple, a home run and six RBI -- more ribbies than any rookie ever had in his major league debut -- and a Starlin was born.          

Meanwhile, Washington Senators sensation Stephen Strasburg pitched six scoreless innings in his first Triple A start on the same night. Expect him to make his major league debut on June 8, when the Pirates visit Nationals Park. 

So when will Pirates fans get their first glimpse of Pedro Alvarez, Brad Lincoln and Jose Tabata at PNC Park?

“We'll bring up a player up when he's ready,” general manager Neal Huntington said earlier this week much like he had last month and the one before that.

Translation: Don't call us. We'll call up you.

In 107 at-bats, Alvarez has put up excellent home run (seven) and RBI (29) numbers for Class AAA Indianapolis this season. He totaled 17 RBI in his last seven games and had at least one in each of them.

Here's the fine print: He has a .226 batting average, one homer and 10 strikeouts in 31 at-bats against left-handers.

Defensively, the 23-year-old has made progress at third base. Still, with four errors and one double play in 26 games, he doesn't appear to be major league-ready yet.

In six starts for the Triple A club, Lincoln has been spotty, as his 4.19 earned run average indicates. His strikeout-to-walk rate is the lowest it has been since he was in A ball four years ago. He also allowed six home runs in 34 1/3 innings. He will turn 25 later this month.

Tabata has the most impressive all-around numbers of the bunch – .355 batting average and .427 on-base percentage in 11o at-bats. What jumps out are his 14 stolen bases in 16 attempts.

Even so, as was the case in spring training, indications are that his maturity level and work habits aren't what they will have to be at the next level. He will turn 22 in August.

The guess here is, the longer the current group plays well, the longer these three stay put. Otherwise, don't be surprised if Lincoln is promoted early next month with Alvarez and Tabata to follow later this season.  

Enjoy Castro and Strasburg in the meantime. Both appear to be headed to successful careers.