Tyler Callihan Has Whirlwind First Day With Pirates
Tyler Callihan appeared in his first game for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night. It was a game he didn’t see the start of.
In need of infield depth with shortstop Konnor Griffin and third baseman Nick Gonzales a little banged up, the Pirates recalled Callihan from Triple-A Indianapolis just before game time. But Callihan didn’t arrive at PNC Park until about 15 minutes after first pitch.
“I was rolling in with all the fans out there walking with all my bags,” Callihan said following a 7-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs. “Then I just threw on all my stuff, hit the foam roller for five minutes, took 10 swings in the cage, threw a few [plyometric] balls and then out to the field.”
Indianapolis’ manager Eric Patterson informed Callihan that he was headed to Pittsburgh via a phone call around 9 a.m. on Thursday. Callihan then headed to the field to pack his belongings, headed to the city’s airport and hopped on a plane to Chicago. His flight from O’Hare airport was delayed, and he didn’t touch down in Pittsburgh until 6 p.m.
Once he arrived at PNC Park and changed into his uniform, there was no waiting around to make his Pirates’ debut.
Nick Gonzales was removed from the game after three innings as a precaution due to left knee discomfort. Gonzales fouled a ball off his knee in Wednesday’s game and wasn’t 100% on Thursday.
Callihan took over for him at the hot corner.
“I was unsure,” Callihan said when asked if he knew he would be called upon immediately. “Just staying ready, being hot and as fresh as I can mentally and physically.”
Callihan was charged with a throwing error in his first test in the sixth inning when he skipped a throw to first base, which wasn’t scooped up by Spencer Horwitz.
But Callihan made up for his miscue in the bottom of the inning. After drawing a walk in a seven-pitch at-bat in his first trip to the plate in the fourth against Cubs starter Colin Rea, Callihan ripped an RBI double to right-center field off lefty reliever Hoby Milner to bring the Pirates within a run.
“That was great,” Callihan said of his first extra-base hit as a big-leaguer. “Happy to help the team and very excited to be out here and do what I can to help them.”
The 25-year-old finished his first game with the Pirates 1 for 2 with an RBI double and a walk and had three quality at-bats.
“Today was the most comfortable I’ve been all season for sure,” Callihan said after the game. “I feel very happy with the progressions I’m making with my swing and my at-bats. I feel like I saw the ball really well today and just trying to do my best and be comfortable out there.”
Callihan made his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds last season and played in four games before suffering a season-ending left forearm fracture after crashing into the wall in foul ground in left field at Truist Park on May 5.
The Pirates acquired him from the Reds in a March trade that sent reliever Kyle Nicolas the other way. Callihan grinded through the first two months of the season with Indianapolis before returning to a big-league field for the first time since his injury.
“It meant the world, just very thankful to everybody that’s supported me along the way,” Callihan said. Everybody from my family, to the fans, to all my rehab involved and very thankful to be here.”
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