Notes: Good Finish But Still 100 Losses, Call Ups, FAs, Pirates News, Top 100 Refill

And another season in the books...

Notes:

• The Pirates season ended with a three-game set at PNC Park against the playoff-bound Cards. The Bucs captured the opener 3-2, winning via Oneil Cruz's walkoff walk. They dropped the next one in typical fashion - the pitching couldn't hold a four run lead in an extra inning defeat, #100 on the year. The team recognized Yadi Molina and Albert Pujols in a pregame ceremony, presenting them with bases with their portraits painted on them. The Pirates overcame a 3-0 deficit and rallied to win the finale, 5-3, to finish the season at 62-100. They finished tied record-wise with the Cincinnati Reds in the Central but claimed fourth place thanks to winning the season series, 12-games-to-9. 

Luis Ortiz - 2022 photo/Pirates 

• RHP Nick Mears was called up on Monday and RHP Luis Ortiz, a starter who wasn't due to pitch anymore this year, was optioned to Indy. Mears worked from the pen that night, adding to the Pirates team record by being the 68th player to appear this season And no, they never do quit - RHP JT Brubaker was removed from the 15-day IL and RHP Roansy Contreras was optioned to the minors on Tuesday, as JT was making the start and Roansy was a day removed from his last outing. The club also recalled INF/OF Tucupita Marcano from Indy and optioned C José Godoy to AAA. 
• IF Michael Chavis has elected free agency rather than accept an assignment to Indy. He was joined by a small posse of Pittsburgh FAs: RHPs Austin Brice, Tyler Beede, Eric Hanhold & Jerad Eickhoff; LHPs Dillon Peters & Cam Vieaux; C Taylor Davis; CF Greg Allen and IF Josh VanMeter.
• RHP Dave Bednar will pitch for Team USA in the 2023 WBC, which runs from March 8th through the 21st. The Pirates season opens on March 30th at Cincinnati so the event is like intensified spring camp.
• Ollie Perez stopped by the Bucco booth during Tuesday's game.
• More sliders, plz: RHP Mitch Keller's ERA dropped from 6.17 last year to 3.91 in 2022, an improvement of 2.26 runs per game. 

Mitch Keller - 2021 Topps Fire

• 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes told the media gang he's been dealing with back pain all season, caused because of an unresolved hip problem. That could be a possible explanation for him going the other way so often if he's too stiff/sore to properly turn on middle-in pitches.   
• The local baseball writers 2022 award winners: the Clemente Award for team MVP: Bryan Reynolds; the Blass Award for the top pitcher: Mitch Keller; and the Tanner Award for most media-friendly player: Michael Chavis.
• End of an era: PNC Park PA announcer Tim DeBacco announced his last game on Wednesday after 35 years behind the mic. 
• Fangraph's Top 100 Prospects, Pirates reps: IF Temarr Johnson (27); C Endy Rodriguez (33); C Henry Davis (36); RHP Luis Ortiz (50); RHP Quinn Priester (88) and IF Liover Peguero (89). 2B Nick Gonzales remains on the bubble (101) while SS Oneil Cruz and RHP Roansy Contreras graduated from the preseason list.