Morning Rundown: Hunter Barco, Malcom Nunez Rehab, Travis Swaggerty Released

Hunter Barco and Malcom Nunez begin rehab assignments in the Complex League, and Travis Swaggerty is released after being DFA.

The Florida Complex League Pirates team had a couple of new faces with them on Thursday, as Malcom Nunez and Hunter Barco began rehab assignments there.

Nunez was acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Jose Quintana trade last year along with John Oviedo. After hitting 23 home runs last year, it was a little more of a struggle this year in Triple-A, slashing .257/.337/.375 with just nine extra-base hits in 39 games played.

With the Pirates bringing in Carlos Santana and Ji-Man Choi during the offseason, there wasn’t much pressure on Nunez and it gave him an entire year to develop in Triple-A.

Barco was the Pirates’ second round pick in 2022 out of the University of Florida. There was talked he was on a trajectory that may have put him on the radar as a first round pick before needs Tommy John Surgery.

The lefty struck out 189 batters in 152.2 career innings while playing for Flordia. There is no video at the FCL level, but I’ll have a special report on Barco coming out on Saturday.

In a move that was ultimately expected current the condition of when he was DFA, Travis Swaggerty was released by the Pirates.

Players who are injured can’t be assigned, so with Swaggerty on the injured list at the time, this was the only option.

It’s an unfortunate ending to Swaggerty’s time with the Pirates, after being the team’s first round pick in 2018. In 17 games in Triple-A this year Swaggerty had a slash of .200/.278/.369, with one home run and three stolen bases.

After COVID knocked out the 2020 minor league season, the Pirates had Swaggerty skip Double-A and go straight for Triple-A Indianapolis, but after 12 games he had season ending shoulder surgery.

He finished with a wRC+ of 102 in 2022 upon coming back, and made his major league debut.

Minor League Recap 7/20

Indianapolis Indians - 5 vs Iowa Cubs - 3

Top Hitter - Chris Owings: 3-5, R, 2 RBI, 3B

Top Pitcher - Colin Selby: 2 IP, H, 3 K

Altoona Curve - 4 vs Reading Fighting Phils - 3

Top Hitter - Mason Martin: 1-1, 2 R, 3 BB, HR (15), RBI

Top Pitcher - Nick Dombkowski: 4 IP, 3 H, BB, K

Greensboro Grasshoppers - 2 vs Wilmington Blue Rocks - 3

Top Hitter - Ernny Ordonez: 2-4, 2 RBI, 2B

Top Pitcher - Ryan Harbin: 2 IP, 2 K

Bradenton Marauders - vs Fort Myers Mighty Mussels -

Top Hitter - Josiah Sightler: 3-5, 2 R, HR (4), RBI

Top Pitcher - Jorge Ramos: 2 IP, 3 H, 3 K