Morning Rundown: Miguel Andujar Is September Call-Up For The Pirates
Pirates make a couple of roster moves on the day major league rosters expand.
As we enter the month of September, the major league rosters expand to allow more players, and the Pirates were quick to make a few moves.
Miguel Andujar was having one of the best seasons in Triple-A this year, and for that he’s going to get another shot to prove he can stick at the major league level.
With Indianapolis Andujar has slashed .338/.404/.536 with 16 home runs, 48 extra-base hits and 86 RBI. He spent some time in Pittsburgh this year and hit just 5-for-31 (.161) with two home runs.
The Pirates also activated Carmen Mlodzinski, who hasn’t pitched since August 9, from the injured list. He has a 2.19 ERA in 24.2 innings this season.
To make room, the Pirates DFA both Cal Mitchell and Yohan Ramirez.
For Mitchell, it became clear that he wasn’t in the teams future plans, not getting much of an option from the outset, even though an injury that cost him some time. He’s struggled with strikeouts in Triple-A, something that was usually one of his stronger suits.
Ramirez had a strong 3.67 ERA in 34.1 innings this year with the Pirates, but also walked 14 and hit another 10 batters in that time.
Also, the Pirates activated Max Kranick from the 60-day injured list, and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis. The righty will be looking to work his way back to the majors, where he last pitched there May 11.
— The Bradenton Marauders also activated Luigi Hernandez and Michael Kennedy from the FCL roster, both of which got into game action on Friday over the course of the doubleheader.
Minor League Recap 9/1
Indianapolis Indians - 5 vs Buffalo Bisons - 8
Top Hitter - Malcom Nunez: 2-4, 2 RBI
Top Pitcher - Travis MacGregor: 2 IP, 2 H, ER, 2 K
Altoona Curve - 6 vs Erie SeaWolves - 3
Top Hitter - Carter Bins: 2-4, R, 4 RBI, HR (3)
Top Pitcher - Paul Skenes: 2 IP, H, 3 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 10 vs Hickory Crawdads - 8
Top Hitter - Hudson Head: 3-5, R, RBI, 2B
Top Pitcher - Julian Bosnic: 2 IP, BB, 3 K
Bradenton Marauders - 2 vs Palm Beach Cardinals - 1
Top Hitter - Rodolfo Nolasco: 1-2, R, RBI, HR (17), BB
Top Pitcher - Hunter Barco: 4 IP, H, 7 K
Bradenton Marauders - 4 vs Palm Beach Cardinals - 2
Top Hitter - Charles McAdoo: 1-3, R, 2 RBI, HR (4)
Top Pitcher - Wilber Dotel: 5 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 6 K
DSL Pirates Gold - 5 vs DSL Dodgers Bautista - 9
Top Hitter - Carlos Caro: 3-4, R, 3 RBI, 2 2B
Top Pitcher - Yoerys Hernandez: IP, 2 H, ER, K
Liked first stream of Michael Kennedy. That change could be a lethal pitch for him. Barco also looked very sharp
Everyone can take a deep breath again because Paul Skenes was VG last night at AA. Also noticed the attendance at Erie increased by about double from Thursday to Friday, but some increase just for the weekend would be normal.
Great news at Bradenton in that 6'4" LHSP Hunter Barco and 6'3" RHSP Wilber Dotel both had VG starts. Someone tell me the story of how Dotel is 7-2, 2.89 ERA but in 74.2 IP he has 40 Walks and only 58 K's, and he is not a GB machine either?
Andujar was promoted - have we checked all of the many REBUILD boxes for 2023? It would appear to be a pre-trade attempt by BC, but why wait until Sep? Maybe just a pat on the back for a good season? Hard to figure, but has nothing to do with making this team better in 2024.