CHICAGO -- Brian Bixler, likely headed back to Class AAA Indianapolis later this week, has made a good impression.

"He's doing a lot of good things now -- especially defensively," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He's gotten to the point that he's really relaxed. I really believe he feels he belongs.

"We're still working on some things with his swing, and that's going to take some time. But he's very receptive to it."

Bixler has made 23 starts at shortstop in Jack Wilson's stead. He hasn't contributed a lot offensively -- a .173 batting average, two RBIs -- but his defense has improved the past two weeks.

"He's much more comfortable defensively," said third base coach Tony Beasley, who has worked with Bixler extensively. "I think he's allowing himself to do what he's capable of doing.

"We've done a lot of work on a daily basis. Probably a week ago at home, he started taking some of the things that we'd worked on into the game. I told him, 'When the game starts, just play. I don't want you thinking about this or that. I want you to catch the ball and throw it.'

"Since then, I think he's starting to understand what we've been talking about, and that's the key."

One point of emphasis with Beasley was Bixler's arm angle.

"He had a lot of length to his arm, so we tried to shorten up his arm arc and get him to use his hand at the end toward the target," Beasley said. "He's doing a tremendous job. I've been more than happy with his progress."

Bixler, the Pirates' second-round draft pick in 2004, seemed overmatched offensively and defensively after joining the team in Miami April 6. Recently, he has appeared more at ease.

Perhaps that's because he has spent more time with the Pirates than originally expected.

"A lot of times, you get that 15-day call-up -- your first call-up -- and you go back down and you feel like you were up for a day," Russell said. "You don't really have time to grasp everything, to soak everything up.

"But being here an extended period of time like he has, I think it has allowed him to get over the initial stage of 'It's all so new' to where he's really starting to see the game differently. I think it has really helped him."

"I'm sure it's helped him," Beasley said of Bixler's six-week stint in the major leagues. "We've done a lot of early work. I told him to watch [Philadelphia's] Chase Utley, [Los Angeles Dodgers] Rafael Furcal when we played those teams. Watch how they set up. Watch their footwork. Watch guys who are good at his position.

"So, he's had the opportunity to watch good major league players and how they go about their business."

Wilson, who hasn't played for the Pirates since April 3, will return to Pittsburgh today before joining Class AA Altoona in Akron tomorrow to continue his rehabilitation stint. Wilson, on the disabled list because of a strained left calf, played four games for Indianapolis at the outset of his rehab stint. He is scheduled to receive treatment and work out at PNC Park this morning, weather permitting.

Nate McLouth was struck by a pitch on the outside of his right leg just below his knee in the third inning. However, he remained in the game and said he was fine.

"It's just sore," he said. "But it's just a bruise."