Monday, August 1, 2022

Notes: Bad Week In the Yard, More Moves, Major & Minor Snips, Draft Signings

We approach the deadline...

Notes:

  • The Pirates brief two-game set at Wrigley ended with a pair of defeats. They came home to meet the Phillies for four games and were swept again to run their losing streak to seven straight.
  • CF Bryan Reynolds (oblique) said he hoped to be back in action for the Cub series starting on Monday at Wrigley. And he got his wish; he returned and OF Jake Marisnick was placed on the 10-day IL with a sprained toe that he had tried to play through. Didn't last long, though - B-Rey went on paternity leave on Thursday (he had a son, Brooks), triggering the call-up of 1B/OF Bligh Madris, who had been spending time transitioning to first base while treading water at Indy. B-Rey returned on Sunday, and IF Diego Castillo was optioned to Indy to clear an active spot.
  • 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes hurt his knee Saturday trying to flag down a wayward throw and was scratched Sunday, so we'll see if it's day-to-day or more...
  • On his Sunday radio show, Ben Cherington said he expects to open up the roster after the deadline, deals or not, to give some young guys a MLB taste, so we'll see where that thought leads to. He also hopes that top prospects C Henry Davis and 2B Nick Gonzales, both on the IL, are back before the season ends.
Duane Underwood-2021 photo Archie Carpenter/UPI
  • RHP Duane Underwood Jr. struck out at least one batter in 19 consecutive appearances (31 K/26IP), tied for the second longest run by a Pirates reliever since 2000 with Tyler Glasnow, Jason Grilli and Octavio Dotel.  He'll stayed tied as his string ended on Monday in a scoreless but also K-less frame against the Cubs. The franchise record is a 33-game strikeout streak by Juan Nicasio in 2016.
  • In case you thought the starting pitching's stabilization has been converted into wins, Pirates starters have won 12 times in the first 100 games, the fewest wins by a rotation since 1906. Seems like a few bats are called for...
  • RH reliever Nick Mears (elbow), who was shut down on his first rehab stint in June, is taking a second shot at action this week.
  • Indy IF Ji-hwan Bae went on the 7-day injured list with a strained left oblique.
Termarr Johnson inked - 2022 graphic/Pirates
  • Pittsburgh inked its top pick (#4 overall), SS Termarr Johnson, for $7,219,000 (slot $7,005,800), fourth round choice LHP Michael Kennedy of Troy (NY) HS to a $1M deal ($554, 800 slot), fifth-rounder OF Tres Gonzalez of Georgia Tech for 347,500 ($414,600 slot), sixth round draft pick RHP Derek Diamond of Ole Miss for slot value, $311,600, and ninth round choice RHP Mike Walsh of Yale agreed to $147,500 ($166,200 slot). The Bucs also came to terms with seventh-round selection RHP JP Massey from the U of Minnesota ($243K slot), and 10th round pick, U of Oklahoma OF Tanner Tredaway ($154,900 slot). After the 10th round, draftees can sign for up to $125K without counting against the pool. Third-day signees so far are 11th round pick LHP Dominic Perachi of Salve Regina University, 13th round LHP Miguel Fulgencio from Cowley CC (KS), 15th round selection 1B Josiah Sightler from South Carolina ($125K), 16th rounder C Nick  Camillo from Rutgers, 17th round selection RHP Jaycob Deese of the U of Houston, 18th round pick RHP Elijah Birdsong of the University of the Pacific and 20th rounder RHP Josh Loeschorn from Long Island University. They also signed undrafted RHP Ryan Velazquez from the U of Washington.

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