Morning Rundown: Duane Underwood Jr., Chase De Jong elect free agency, Ercolani pitches in AFL
Pair of veterans elect free agency, and Alessandro Ercolani pitches in the AFL
The MLB playoffs began on Tuesday with the Wild Card, but there were some moves made that impacted the offseason for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Relief pitchers Duane Underwood Jr. and Chase De Jong have both elected free agency and will now have a chance to go sign with a different organization.
Underwood Jr. was claimed off of waivers by the Pirates back in 2021 and had pitched 114 games with them in the three seasons with the organization.
He posted a ERA+ of 94 with the Pirates, striking out 136 batters in 154.1 innings pitched. After getting DFA during the season, Underwood joined the Indianapolis Indians to close out the year.
For De Jong, he actually put up a surprisingly impressive 2022 season, posting a 2.64 ERA across 71.2 innings, winning six games and even picking up his first career save.
He regressed in 2023 and ended up getting DFA as well. De Jong had a 13.50 ERA in six games with the Pirates this past year.
Arizona Fall League update
It was a rough night for the Salt River Rafters, losing 8-1 to the Mesa Solar Sox. The offense was only able to muster five hits, with the lone run scoring when Carter Bins reached on an error.
In total five Pirates’ prospects played in the game, three of which were making their AFL debut.
— After batting in the nine hole on Monday, Jase Bowen led off and picked up his third hit on the season. He also struck out three times as well.
— It’s been a rough start to the AFL for Jack Brannigan, who is 0-for-7 with five strikeouts in two games so far. He drew a walk in his final plate appearance on the day.
— The youngest player in the AFL this year, Alessandro Ercolani made his debut on Tuesday, and it certainly could have gone better for him.
He didn’t allow a hit, but walked four, although he did strikeout two. Ercolani struggled with his fastball command, and averaged 94.8 mph on 18 pitches. The positive side of his outing, when he did throw it over the plate, it was unhittable - Mesa players whiffed on all six swings they made against him.
— Cameron Junker pitched the eighth inning, walking one and allowing another hit but struck out two. Baseball Savant credited him with 12 sliders thrown, and a whiff rate of 43% with it (3/7).
— Carter Bins batted in the nine hole, reached on an error and struck out twice playing as the designated hitter. The only run scored for Salt River on the night was on the play he reached base.
Ercolani 100% whiff rate. That's the sole metric I'm going to focus on with regards to last night's game.
Speaking of the pen, it's kind of wild that the Bednar-Moreta combo this year equaled or bested (judged by fWAR) the Melancon-Watson Shark Tank bullpens from each year of the 2013-2015 run.