Pirates DFA John Nogowski, Activate Yoshi Tsutsugo

The Pirates signing of first baseman/outfielder Yoshi Tsutsugo is now official as Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette says the left-handed hitter will be active for the Pirates tonight in Los Angeles.

Tsutugo is active. Nogowski DFA'd.

— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) August 16, 2021

To make room on the active roster, first baseman John Nogowski has been designated for assignment.

It was reported over the weekend that the Pirates had a deal with Tsutsugo. The native of Japan was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as a free agent prior to the 2020 season. In his rookie year, he slashed .197/.314/.395 with eight homeruns and 24 RBIs in 51 games for Tampa Bay.

After a slow start to the 2021 season, the 29-year-old was designated for assignment by the Rays, before being picked up by the Dodgers.  On the year, Tsutsugo has managed just a .451 OPS in 118 plate appearances between the Rays and Dodgers, who outrighted him last month.

Heralded for his power in Japan before coming to the United States, the slugger has shown signs that the potential is there, but has not shown much consistently to date.

In his 10 seasons in the NPB, Tsutsugo hit 255 homers with 795 RBIs and a .910 OPS.

Nogowski, who was acquired from the Cardinals in July, quickly burst onto the scene in Pittsburgh. After hitting .333 through his first 12 games as a Pirate, Nogowksi hit just .127 with a .375 OPS over his last 21 games.