Notes: Hot & Cold Week; Players Come, Players Go; System News; MLB Note

The roster games continue...

Notes:

• Good start to the week; the Pirates took 3-of-4 from the Cubbies as the offense came alive and the young 'uns seem to have added some energy to the clubhouse. But it takes more than vibes; the Bucs went to Tampa Bay and were swept in the three-game set, losing twice by walk offs and the finale by two runs.
• Ah, youth; Pittsburgh has had 11 players make their MLB debut so far this year. And on Tuesday, Bligh Madris became the fifth Pirate to hit his first MLB home run this season along with Diego Castillo, Jack Suwinski, Tucupita Marcano and Cal Mitchell.
• Ke'Bryan Hayes missed the first two games of the Tampa Bay set after C Wilson Contreras landed atop him on a play at home during the Cubbie finale. Fortunately, Ke' was just banged up and needed a couple of days to work out the soreness.
• RHP Jerad Eickhoff, 31, was promoted to Pittsburgh from Indy (4-3/4.84) on Wednesday. He was a NRI during the spring who had five years with the Phils and a cup of coffee with the Mets. Eickhoff's career slash in 21-32/4.35 (spoiler - he hasn't finished a season with an ERA lower than 4.35 since 2016). RHP Heath Hembree was DFA'ed 2 clear roster room. Eickhoff started, was shelled, and on Friday was DFA'ed as RHP Austin Brice was called up (2-2-5/3.04 at Indy).

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• The Pirates made it official: SS Oneil Cruz and OF/1B Bligh Madris (he banged a two-run single in his first MLB at bat) were called up Monday. SS Liover Peguero was optioned back to Altoona and RHP Zach Thompson (forearm inflammation) was placed on the 15-day IL, retro to 6/18. OF Jake Marisnick was placed on the Covid IL.
• OF Yoshi Tsutsugo, SS Kevin Newman and utilityman Josh VanMeter reported to Indy Tuesday to begin rehab assignments; OF Ben Gamel joined them Thursday. Also in rehab news, Duane Underwood Jr. and Dillon Peters threw live BP Saturday at Tropicana Field to Jake Marisnick and Tucupita Marcano. Marcano and Underwood will begin their rehab assignments on Monday. So the next chapter of roster churn is just around the bend; we'll find out if the commitment to youth and the future is a thing or not.
• The Bucs bought LHP Eric Stout, 29, from the Cubs after they had DFA'ed him, and optioned him to Indy. He has five MLB appearances between KC and Chicago.
• RHP Nick Garcia of the Greensboro Grasshoppers pitched a complete-game, seven-inning shutout as part of a twin bill, allowing three hits and fanning four, to earn the Hi-A Sally League Pitcher of the Week honors. 
• Altoona 2B Nick Gonzales was placed on the 60-day IL with a heel injury.
• Reliever Dave Wickersham, long-time AL pitcher born in Erie who made a foray into the Senior Circuit with the Bucs in 1968 (1-0-1/3.48) passed away Saturday at the  age of 86.