Top pitching prospect Brad Lincoln could make an impact in Pittsburgh this season. Lincoln missed all of the 2007 season following Tommy John surgery and won the gold medal game for the United States at the World Cup. He's expected to arrive in Pittsburgh after a brief run with Class AAA Indianapolis. "It's been on my mind the whole offseason," Lincoln said. "It's my goal to work my way up and show these guys that I deserve to be there. It's been my dream my whole life, from when I was a kid to the Tommy John to now. And I hope to fulfill it this year." Management's projection is that the one rotation vacancy will come down to Kevin Hart or Daniel McCutchen, but Lincoln has not been ruled out. "I'm going to go in thinking I want to make the team out of the spring," Lincoln said. "I don't want to wait for a midseason call-up. I've put in hours every day, on the field and in the gym, and I'm doing that because I want to show them that's what I deserve."