The Pirates signed righthanded Cuban defector Serguey Linares in early February, and now it looks like the 23-year-old is close to getting out of Pirate City and onto a full-season club.

Linares, who signed with Pittsburgh for $125,000, went 7-10, 5.59 with a 111-86 strikeout walk ratio in 163 innings in two seasons in Cuba. He hasn’t pitched competitively since 2005 because of a lengthy process of getting unblocked–the approval process Cuban defectors have to go through to be cleared to sign with a major league club.

But apparently the Buccos are set to move Linares to low Class A Hickory within the next week.

“He’s in extended now, but he’s almost ready to go,” Pirates pitching coordinator Gary Ruby said. “We’ll get him out to low A soon. He’s a big, strong, physical righthander with power stuff.”

Linares’ fastball velocity has been up to 92-94 mph in extended spring camp, and he complements his heater with a sinker, hammer curveball and developing changeup.

“He’s got a curveball from hell,” Ruby said. “He’s a big horse and we’re excited to get him out and see how he does. He throws downhill with hard stuff. He’s really made a lot of progress in the short time we’ve had him.”