Morning Rundown: Pirates trade JT Brubaker to the Yankees, defeat Marlins
Pirates take a 2-0 series lead against the Marlins with Jared Jones up next in rotation. Nick Gonzales homers in first Indianapolis game.
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced they had traded right-handed pitcher JT Brubaker to the New York Yankees. Along with Brubaker, the Pirates will send international pool money to the Yankees in exchange for a player to be named later.
Brubaker missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He had said in the off-season he was shooting for a return around the All-Star break.
There was certainly talent there with Brubaker; he just struggled to put it together. He had a career of 3.96 xFIP with the Pirates and a better 2022 than some of the numbers suggest (1.9 WAR, 3.87 xFIP).
He finished with a similar xFIP and WAR as Mitch Keller in 2022 and then had a really strong spring in 2023 before the injury.
The Pirates jumped out ahead early and hung on to beat the Miami Marlins to start the 2024 regular season 2-0.
Connor Joe, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Oneil Cruz all had multiple hits on the night. Hayes went 2-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Joe and Michael A. Taylor also had extra-base hits.
The defense also converted four double plays on the night despite an uncharacteristic two-error night from Hayes.
Martin Perez allowed one run on three walks and six hits in 4.1 innings. Ryder Ryan came in behind and eventually earned his first major league win. In 1.2 innings, he allowed just one hit and two strikeouts.
Josh Fleming picked up a three-inning save to close things out, just the second of his career.
Jared Jones will make his major league debut on Saturday, and Paul Skenes will make his first Triple-A start.
Top Exit Velocity
Joe Perez - IND - 108 mph - Single
Liover Peguero - IND - 107.4 mph - Single
Bryan Reynolds - PIT - 107.3 mph - Single
Carter Bins - IND - 105.4 mph - Groundout
Michael A. Taylor - 104.2 mph - Double
Top Pitch Velocity
Colin Holderman - IND - 98 mph
Kyle Nicolas - IND - 97 mph
Kyle Nicolas - IND - 96.7 mph
Kyle Nicolas - IND - 96.6 mph
Colin Holderman - IND - 96.4 mph
Most Whiffs (Whiff%)
Michael Plassmeyer - IND - 9 (31%)
Martin Perez - PIT - 9 (26%)
Geronimo Franzua - IND - 8 (67%)
Josh Fleming - PIT - 8 (30%)
Connor Sadzeck - IND - 5 (50%)
Minor League Rundown
Indianapolis Indians - 8 vs Louisville Bats - 9
Top Pitcher - Michael Plassmeyer: 4 IP, H, ER, 6 K
Top Hitter - Nick Gonzales: 2-5, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
Jared Jones came in at number four among the Bucs on Deck Top 25 prospects in the off-season. He will be making his major league debut today. To give you a chance to read our scouting report, as well as the rest, and access our video breakdowns, we are making a one-day-only sale where you can get 50% off a yearly subscription.
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Just so everyone knows, or at least those who don’t have Twitter. We’ve set records on back to back days already this season.
You guys have been amazing. Let’s keep it up, we absolutely will on our end.
Alex Stumpf reporting he believes the PTBNL may be a roster player or someone close to major league ready. Not quite sure what’s leading him to speculate that, and obviously too early to know.