Pirates Roster Moves: Jack Suwinski Gets Another Chance
The Pittsburgh Pirates are recalling outfielder Jack Suwinski ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Royals in Kansas City. To make room for him on the roster, the Pirates placed right-handed reliever Chase Shugart on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation.
Suwinski has had two stints with the Pirates this season. He cracked the club’s Opening Day roster but was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on April 24 after prolonged struggles. He also served as the 27th man for a doubleheader in Detroit last month.
In 18 games with the Pirates this season, the 26-year-old has hit just .119 with a .403 OPS, one double and one RBI. Last year, Suwinski slumped to a .182/.264/.324 batting line with nine home runs and 26 RBI in 88 games.
But it was two years ago when he led the team in OPS (.793) and home runs (26). Suwinski finished the 2023 season with a .224/.339/.454 batting line and 74 RBI in a career-high 144 games.
The Pirates are hoping Suwinski figured something out during his latest with Indianapolis, where he’s been playing well. In 53 games at Triple-A, Suwinski was hitting .280/.382/.544 with 10 doubles, a triple, 12 home runs, 48 RBI and six steals in 53 games at the time of getting recalled.
Suwinski is batting seventh in the Pirates’ lineup on Tuesday and playing right field.
Shugart allowed four runs in 2.2 innings in the Pirates’ loss to the Royals on Monday night. It was a rare poor outing for the first-year Pirate, who had performed well this season.
In 32 games, Shugart has a 4-3 record and a 3.69 ERA. He’s held opponents to a .214 batting average, but has only struck out 22 in 39 innings.
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