The Pirates introduced at present that they’ve chosen the contract of outfielder Billy Cook dinner. In a corresponding transfer, catcher Henry Davis was positioned on the 10-day injured checklist with irritation in his left hand. The membership’s 40-man roster now stands at 39. Moreover, the membership introduced that right-hander Domingo German has cleared waivers and been assigned outright to Triple-A.
Cook dinner, 25, was a tenth-round choose by the Orioles within the 2021 draft. Cook dinner was a comparatively quick riser with the Orioles and made it to Triple-A earlier this 12 months. The outfielder carried out admirably with a .279/.372/.485 slash line in 304 journeys to the plate with the membership’s affiliate in Norfolk. Cook dinner was dealt to the Pirates in a swap on the day of the commerce deadline, with Pittsburgh sending minor league right-hander Patrick Reilly to Baltimore in trade for Cook dinner’s companies. Since becoming a member of the Pirates group, Cook dinner has picked up proper the place he left off at Triple-A Indianapolis with a .276/.389/.486 slash line in 30 video games.
That’s clearly sufficient for the membership’s brass to determine the teen should be given a shot in Pittsburgh. Oneil Cruz’s current transfer to middle discipline leaves the Pirates with common starters at every outfield place for the second, as Cruz is flanked by Bryan Reynolds and Bryan De La Cruz within the outfield corners whereas Connor Joe and Michael A. Taylor each additionally combine in on a reasonably common foundation. It’s an open query, then, whether or not Cook dinner will have the ability to discover a lot enjoying time on the membership’s roster as issues stand. That being stated, nevertheless, Cook dinner additionally has expertise at each first and second base that might permit him to search out extra enjoying time. He may combine in alongside Joe and Rowdy Tellez at first base whereas additionally providing Nick Gonzales an occasional break day on the keystone.
Making room for Cook dinner on the 40-man roster is Davis, the primary total choose from the 2021 draft. The highest prospect made his massive league debut final 12 months however has struggled to ascertain himself within the massive leagues up to now in his profession with a .191/.283/.307 slash line in 99 video games throughout the previous two seasons the place he’s cut up time between the outfield and catcher. Now, he’s headed to the injured checklist for the second time this 12 months, following up a stint on the concussion IL again in June.
This time, Davis is coping with hand irritation, although the severity of the problem is just not but clear. With the top of the common season simply three weeks away and the Pirates all however eradicated from playoff rivalry, a stint on the shelf that extends past the minimal ten days may spell the top of his season even when the problem isn’t particularly critical. With Davis out of motion, the membership figures to depend on a tandem of Joey Bart and Yasmani Grandal behind the plate within the season’s closing weeks.
As for German, the right-hander signed with the Pirates on a minor league deal earlier this 12 months and made seven appearances for the membership, two of which had been begins. These outings didn’t go particularly nicely, nevertheless, as German was lit up for 19 runs (18 earned) in simply 20 2/3 innings of labor. In all, he’s posted a 7.84 ERA, 6.13 FIP, and 18% strikeout charge throughout his time with the large league Pirates this 12 months. Now again in Triple-A, German figures to function non-roster depth for the membership’s pitching employees for the rest of the season earlier than doubtless making an attempt his luck in minor league free company this winter.
