Pirates Select Tanner Anderson; Roansy Contreras Optioned

The Pirates announced that right-handed pitcher Tanner Anderson has had his contract selected from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned Roansy Contreras to Indianapolis. Dillon Peters has been transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Anderson, simply a technicality to clear a space on the 40-man.

Anderson was originally drafted by the Pirates in the 20th round of the 2015 draft out of Harvard University. He spent four seasons in the organization and made his Major League debut with the Pirates in 2018. The Pirates traded Anderson to the Oakland Athletics in November 2018 in exchange for minor leaguer Wilkin Ramos.

With Oakland, Anderson pitched 22.1 innings in 2019 but did not make an appearance in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. The A’s released Anderson on June, and the Pirates brought him back as a minor-league free agent. In 36.2 innings pitched with Triple-A Indianapolis, Anderson posted a 4.17 ERA, struck out 25 and walked 14.

Anderson will pitch out of the Pirates’ bullpen, per manager Derek Shelton.

As expected, Contreras made one start on Wednesday and now will head back to Triple-A. Contreras looked excellent in the Pirates 3-2 loss to Chicago, going three scoreless innings and picking up four strikeouts.