Morning Rundown: Johan Oviedo has Tommy John, Travis MacGregor signs with Angels, Rule 5 results
The Rule 5 draft took place on Wednesday, plus news on Johan Oviedo and a former prospect.
Johan Oviedo underwent Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, which was expected, and he will miss the entire 2024 season.
A reliever with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pirates shifted him back to the rotation upon acquiring him in the Jose Quintana trade. He pitched a career-high 177.2 innings in 2023, winning nine games.
After the season, a report came out that he was having some elbow soreness/issues, and after a further look, it was determined that he would need Tommy John.
The Pirates’ rotation was hit hard last year by injuries and ineffectiveness. By the end of the season, they were having ‘bullpen games’ most of the time due to the lack of available options. Oviedo and Mitch Keller were the only two that fit the mold of a traditional starter.
A second-round pick by the Pirates back in 2016, Travis MacGregor became a minor league free agent after this past season, and on Wednesday, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels.
MacGregor, 26, posted a 3.82 ERA in 77.2 innings pitched, striking out 84 batters across Double-and-Triple-A. He’s pitched well the last two years in Altoona but has hit a wall in Triple-A.
The Rule 5 has come and gone, with the Pirates not selecting or losing anyone in the major league portion.
However, there was quite a bit of action on the minor league side, with the Pirates adding four players to their organization while having another four selected.
I’ll be going into more depth on the players added/lost later today, but here’s a rundown for now.
Added to organization
RHP - Fineas Del Bonta-Smith, Colorado Rockies
1B/OF - Seth Beer, Arizona Diamondbacks
3B - Marcos Cabreras, New York Yankees
OF - PJ Hilson, San Francisco Giants
Drafted to new organization
3B - Dariel Lopez, San Francisco Giants
LHP - Omar Cruz, San Diego Padres
C - Rafael Escalante, Minnesota Twins
RHP - Roelmy Garcia, Tampa Bay Rays
I put up player pages for the new guys, fwiw. They’re under Indy because that’s where they technically got assigned for now.
BA thought Finn was one of the more intriguing MiL R5 guys. Lot of movement on his pitches.
My Erod dream has passed so now my next hope is that we can pull a Lugo into the rotation