Pirates Select Domingo Germán From Indianapolis

The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Domingo Germán from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Pittsburgh originally signed the recently-turned 32-year-old as a minor league free agent in March. After Germán opted out of his contract on July 16, the Pirates re-signed him to another minor-league contract a few days later.

Germán made 13 starts this season with Triple-A Indianapolis and went 6-4 with a 5.29 ERA. In 68 innings, he allowed 66 hits, including 12 home runs, walked 31 and struck out 66 batters. He will wear the number zero on his jersey, just the third player in Pirates’ history to do so.

Germán has six major-league seasons under his belt, all of which came with the New York Yankees from 2017-23. In his career, the right-hander has gone 31-28 with a 4.41 ERA in 112 appearances/89 starts. Germán’s biggest on-field moment came last year, when he tossed the 24th perfect game in MLB history in a game against the Oakland A’s on June 28.

Though he’s been fairly effective in his big-league career, Germán also comes with baggage. MLB suspended German 81 games for violating the league and Players Association’s Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy after striking his girlfriend in 2019.

Last season, Germán checked himself into inpatient treatment for alcohol abuse after an incident in the Yankees’ clubhouse last season. In May of last year, Germán was suspended 10 games after he was ejected for using a sticky substance while pitching.

In a corresponding move, the Pirates designated left-handed pitcher Josh Walker for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster; they also optioned Hunter Stratton to Triple-A to open a spot on the 26-man roster. Pittsburgh acquired Walker from the Mets at the trade deadline but he never appeared with the big league club, making one start for Triple-A Indianapolis before ending up on the Injured List.