Morning Rundown: Pittsburgh Pirates make several roster moves as season draws near
Roster shape becoming clearer with two games left in spring training schedule
After their Saturday game, the Pittsburgh Pirates made several roster moves, which helped provide a better picture of the opening-day roster.
They have optioned the following to Triple-A Indianapolis:
Henry Davis
Billy Cok
Nick Yorke
This basically names the backup catcher, as it was between Davis and Endy Rodriguez. With Davis getting optioned, it looks like they will go with Rodriguez as the second catcher behind Joey Bart.
Davis has had a decent spring, batting .250/.289/.472 with two home runs and another two doubles. Rodriguez has been fantastic in spring games, hitting .321/.486/.571 with a pair of doubles, a triple, and a home run.
Cook’s versatility to play in the outfield and at first seemed like a good opening with Spencer Horwitz looking like he may miss the start of the season. He’s also a right-handed bat that could have platooned with Horwitz when he returned.
Yorke was getting a chance to play first, and while he picked up hits here and there, it wasn’t enough to make the roster. He can work all over the field again with the Indianapolis Indians.
Along with those moves, the Pirates also:
Selected the contract of Hunter Stratton
Designated Joshua Palacios for assignment
Stratton is a fantastic story, especially if he is able to make the team after one spring appearance (to date). He ruptured his patella tendon towards the end of the 2024 season, and it seemed (at first) that he wouldn’t be ready for the start of 2025.
The writing had been on the wall for Palacios most of spring, as the team seemed to focus on getting Jack Suwinski and Ji Hwan Bae playing time. Palacios had half the at-bats than the other two through the end of Saturday’s game.
Paul Skenes wrapped up his spring with another strong outing, allowing a hit and walk over 3.1 innings pitched while striking out four. Ryan Borucki struck out a batter while recording two outs after Skenes.
Tim Mayza, Colin Holderman, and Hunter Stratton pitched shutout innings out of the bullpen. It was the first Grapefruit game for Stratton this year.
On the offense side, well, there wasn’t any offense as the Pirates were no-hit by the Baltimore Orioles. They drew three walks, but they didn’t record a hit and struck out 10 times.
Bailey Falter will get the start for the Pirates on Sunday, facing Chris Bassitt and the Toronto Blue Jays. The game has a scheduled first pitch time of 1:05 pm ET. It’s the second-to-last spring training game for the Pirates.
Top Exit Velocity
Alika Williams - 104.4 mph - Flyout
Adam Frazier - 97.5 mph - Groundout
Bryce Johnson - 95 mph - Groundout
Bryce Johnson - 94.2 mph - Groundout
Aaron McKeithan - 91.7 mph - Groundout
Top Pitch Velocity
Paul Skenes - 99.1 mph
Paul Skenes - 99.1 mph
Paul Skenes - 98.9 mph
Paul Skenes - 98.7 mph
Paul Skenes - 98.7 mph
Most Whiffs
Paul Skenes - 9
Hunter Stratton - 3
Colin Holderman - 2
Peter Strzelecki - 2
Valentin Linarez - 2
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I am really kicking myself, I had posted that I thought the 5 top exit velocities yesterday would be Alika, 2 by Johnson, Frazier, and McKeithan. I just forgot to hit Post.
OY!
Went and saw the new Looney Tunes movie yesterday: "The Day the Earth Blew Up."
I am back with the sad news that this movie sucked so hard that I could scarcely stand it.
Of course... No Wabbits in it.... And how can you have an alien trying to blow up earth and it isn't Marvin the Martian?
Carrot Sticks, man!
They need me to write some effin' scripts for them.
Just a really bad movie.
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"Where's the Earth-shattering kaboom? There was supposed to be an Earth-shattering kaboom!"
-Wabbit