Notes: Bucs On Fire; Shelty Extended; Injuries, Moves; '23 Pirates HoF Class; Pittsburgh & MLB News

Slowly I turned, step by step, inch by inch...

Notes:

• The Pirates began the week with a three-game set at Colorado (they swept the Rox pretty impressively) then returned home for a four-game series against the Reds. And holy moly, they broomed the Redlegs, too! The bats boomed in Colorado while the pitching silenced Cincy at PNC Park. And at 16-7 after Sunday, the Bucs have edged ahead of Milwaukee in the Central by 1/2 game.
• On Sunday, the club called up IF Drew Maggi from Altoona and placed OF Bryan Reynolds on the bereavement list (he's expected back for the Dodger series). To clear room on the 40-man roster, 1B Ji-Man Choi (Achilles tendon) was placed on the 60-day IL. The 33-year-old Maggi was drafted by the Pirates back in 2010; this is his first appearance in the show with Pittsburgh (he spent two days on the Twins roster w/o playing). If Shelty gets him in, Drew will become the oldest position player to make his MLB debut with the Pirates in the Modern Era.

Derek Shelton - photo 4/4/2023 - CBS/KDKA

• The Bucs have extended Shelty's contract beyond the season, per GM Ben Cherington, but didn't disclose the years or salary of the deal.
• The Pirates streak of 11 straight quality starts came to an end on Saturday when Rich Hill lasted five innings, giving up a run on five hits with three walks/seven Ks and falling a frame short of a QS. However, the 43-year-old become the oldest Pirates starter to win a game, bypassing Babe Adams in 1925.
• Jack Suwinski homered in three consecutive at-bats against the Rox for the second time in his career.
• 1B Ji-Man Choi is out for a projected eight weeks due to his Achilles strain. RHP Rob Zastryzny was diagnosed w/ulnar neuritis (nerve irritation) in his left elbow. He'll be shut down for seven to 10 days. LHP Jarlín García is still unable to grip the ball and is out indefinitely. 
• Minor aches and pains: OF Travis Swaggerty was placed on 7-day IL (undisclosed illness) as was C Endy Rodríguez (R forearm strain; it will be evaluated in Pittsburgh on 4/24). RHP prospect Mike Burrows had his second opinion on his elbow injury pushed back to next week. 
• In better news, IF Temarr Johnson (hammy) is back in action again starting this weekend by DH'ing at Bradenton on Friday.
• The Pirates announced their 2023 Hall of Fame Class on Thursday before the game against the Reds. The new members are ElRoy Face, Kent Tekulve, Bob Friend and Dick Groat. They'll be inducted in August.

2023 Hall of Fame - photos Associated Press

• Bench coach Don Kelly bet his locks on a five-game winning streak. The Pirates win against the Reds on Friday was their fifth straight, and Kelly's scalp is now due to be buzzed to celebrate.
• Bob Walk is only doing home Pirates broadcasts along with three road trips in 2023. He doesn't have any booth/health related issues, but like Steve Blass, just wanted a break from the baseball travel grind.
• The ushers, ticket takers, and ticket sellers working at PNC Park voted last Sunday evening to strike after rejecting the latest contract proposal from the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, a tentative agreement was reached on Tuesday averting a walkout, at least until the union membership meets at the end of the month to vote the proposal up-or-down.
• PNC Park hosted the Backyard Brawl, baseball version, on Wednesday. West Virginia banged Pitt, 9-4.
• A once-upon-a-time Pirates prospect, RHP Colten Brewer, was outrighted to AAA by the Yankees. He was a Buc draftee in 2011 and later lost as a Rule 5 pick. Since then he's made 84 appearances over five seasons for the Padres, Red Sox and Yankees with a slash of 2-5/4.98.
• The Oakland A's have bought land in Vegas; while not officially announcing a move from Oakland, sure looks like they're gone...