Pirates Option Smith-Njigba, Oliva, Reassign Mitchell, Martin

For the second time in as many days, the Pirates trimmed their spring training roster by optioning outfielders Canaan Smith-Njigba and Jared Oliva to Triple-A, and reassigning outfielder Cal Mitchell and first baseman Mason Martin to minor league camp.

Of the four, Oliva is the only one who has reached the big leagues to date, playing a total of 26 games with the Pirates over the last two seasons. Smith-Njigba was added to the 40-man roster earlier in the offseason, and figures to work his way up to Pittsburgh at some point in 2022.

Though Mitchell and Martin are both not currently on the 40-man roster, each could get promoted to the big leagues at some point this season as both are expected to begin the season with Indianapolis.

All four saw action in Sunday’s spring training game against the Yankees. Oliva collected a pair of hits, and Smith-Njigba recorded a base hit after homering last game. Martin struggled, striking out three times in three plate appearances, and Mitchell was brought in late as a substitution.

The Pirates spring training roster now sits at 43.