Notes: Western Blues; LSU's Skenes Selected; Renegade Added To ASG; More Moves; Lots Of Minor League News; All Star Snips

July and youth are now being served:

Notes:

• The Bucs started the week on the coast, visiting LA for a four-game set. They dropped three-of-four in a series that pitching lost. Then they lost a pair to Arizona before Ji Man Choi shook them out of their lethargy in a 4-2 win to take them into the All Star break.
• The  Pirates selected LSU RHP Paul Skenes (12-2/1.69 with 209 strikeouts in 122 2/3 IP) with the first pick in the MLB amateur draft. He was considered the top pitcher available, although there was some question of how well his fastball will play; some think it's too flat, although Pittsburgh may plan to develop his sinker. However his mix ends up, the Bucs are hoping that he can be added to a thin staff sooner rather than later, bypassing a handful of touted hitters to go with Skenes. Next, they selected SS Mitch Jebb from Michigan State in the second round (#42 overall). He hit .337 with 14 steals for the Spartans. In the Competitive Balance B Round (#67), they picked RHP Zander Mueth from Belleville East (IL) High. A Mississippi commit who throws in the mid-90s, the 6'6" Mueth is likely to get an offer he can't refuse.

Paul Skenes - image via ESPN

• RHP Luis Ortiz (2-3/4.86) was optioned to Indy and RH reliever Yohan Ramirez was recalled. This is Ramirez's second go-around with the big team this year; he slashed 1-0/3.00 in 19 earlier appearances for the Bucs.
• RHP Roansy Contreras was moved from starter to the bullpen in search of his former mojo; that didn't work, so he's been optioned to Indy to find himself. The move opened an active spot for 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes, who returned from the IL after clearing up his back tightness. Two days later, he was back on it with the same thing, good call, docs. There is no timeline for his return, although the injury is considered more nagging than structural. Cutch joined him after aggravating a nagging sore elbow and is expected back shortly after the All Star break. 1B Ji Man Choi was activated off the DL, RHP Cody Bolton was recalled yet again, and LHP Rob Zastryzny came off the IL and was DFA'ed. 
• David Bednar was added to the All-Star roster (he replaced LA's injured Clayton Kershaw) for the second year, so first-timer Mitch Keller will have a Renegade to show him the ASG ropes.
• LHP Jose Hernandez began his rehab assignment with Indy on Tuesday. 
• The Bucs promoted 2B Liover Peguero to Indy, where Mark Mathias' release and Nick Gonzales promotion left a hole; Liover can also step in at shortstop. He got into one game to wet his toes with the Bucs last season, and it was a small surprise when he was rostered as Altoona again this year. The 22-year-old hit .260/11 HR there before his promotion.

Liover Peguero - 2023 Topps Series 1

• OF Travis Swaggerty is beginning a rehab stint at Greensboro.
• Prospects UT Endy Rodriguez (Indy) and RHP JP Massey (Greensboro) played in the All Star Futures games Saturday. Endy batted sixth, played 1B and walked twice, scoring once. JP worked the eighth inning. He got two routine outs,  walked the next three guys, then fanned the last hitter. 
• 19-year-old Dominican LF/1B Esmerlyn Valdez was named the Florida Complex League (formerly the Gulf Coast League) Player of the Week after hitting .500 with three homers. In the Dominican Summer League, RHP Adolfo Ovieda was selected as POTW after striking out 17 in 16-2/3 IP while tossing scoreless, three-hit ball. The 18-year-old won both starts, but with 13 walks...
• C Elias Diaz, let loose by the Bucs in 2019, is Colorado's All-Star rep. Eli's hitting .286 w/9 HR. Yankee RHP Gerrit Cole (8-2/2.79) is the only other ex-Pirate to earn a spot in the Midsummer Classic. 
• Righty reliever Daniel Hudson, who tossed for the Bucs in 2017, just returned to LA after missing a year due to an ACL tear. Huddy made three appearances for the Dodgers before spraining his MCL. If it weren't for bad luck...
• RHP Colten Brewer, 30, who was a long-ago Buc prospect lost in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft to the Yankees, has pitched for three MLB teams in the past five years (2-5/4.98 in 84 outings) and was just released by the NYY so that he can sign with a Japanese club.