The Pirates announced Thursday that they’ve selected the contract of first baseman/outfielder Will Craig from Triple-A Indianapolis and designated righty Sean Poppen for assignment in order to open a spot on the 40-man roster. Craig will take the active roster spot of infielder/outfielder Phillip Evans, who is going on the 10-day injured list due to a hamstring strain. Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported earlier in the day that Craig would be brought back up to the MLB roster.
Pittsburgh designated Craig, their first-round pick from the 2016 draft, for assignment back in November after claiming righty Ashton Goudeau off waivers. Craig went unclaimed on waivers and remained with the organization and headed to Spring Training as a non-roster player.
Craig has opened the year just 6-for-26 in Triple-A, but he’s fanned only three times and three of those six hits have been round-trippers. With Colin Moran and Evans on the injured list and Todd Frazier having been recently designated for assignment himself, it seems like Craig will have an opportunity to another look at first base — at least in the short term.
Poppen, 27, was claimed off waivers out of the Twins organization over the winter but hasn’t found much success in his short time with the Bucs. He tossed just 4 1/3 innings this season and was tagged for seven runs (four earned) on 11 hits and a couple of walks with four strikeouts. He’s served up a pair of runs in four Triple-A frames as well.
Poppen, a Harvard product, has spent parts of five seasons in the minors since being selected by the Twins in the 19th round of the 2016 draft. He’s compiled a 3.39 ERA in 413 2/3 minor league innings, punching out 23.5 percent of opponents against a 7.6 percent walk rate.
Pirates need to find a suitable replacement at 1B until Evans or Moran returns. Whichever comes first. There are about 500 Will Craig’s in professional baseball. He’s a .200 BA/20 home run kind of hitter, but doesn’t walk. His defense at first base is decent, so at least there’s that.
Mediocre means “better than some.”
Give the guy a chance! For god’s sake something or somebody I hope pops out from somewhere and becomes a surprise.
Let the kids play! We’re not in contention this year so I don’t see any point in paying additional money for a veteran or alternate option who would likely produce the same as Craig. Either way, it likely doesn’t impact our overall record for the season, so might as well give the kid reps
I like craig. They made no effort to put a contending team on the field. They will try to trade off as much pitching as they can. Might as well have a good defender at 1st.
It’s about time that we finally get to see Craig for an extended period.
Has had faith in Will Craig since saw him in AZ Fall league few years ago very good defensive 1B and an average OF but the player is a very good hitter as I recall Higher average in lower minor leagues lite on power but average suffered when increased power —- would prefer the higher batting average instead of power
Show the faith has been well placed Will
Sean’s not poppen anymore.
I wonder, Will Craig be successful this time?
Like to see him get at least 125 ab’s
I doubt it.
Sean Poppen sounds like a breakdancer’s stage name.
I have low expectations for Craig. He was DFA’d and nobody claimed him. But, when you’re a Pirate fan, you grasp at any hope you can get.
Might as well see if he’s ever going to be more than a AAA level player
He was a first round draft choice who has spent five years in the minors so it is now or never.
He may very well be one of the many Pirates draft busts but he certainly deserves a chance.
I would play him full time until Moran comes back and if he is hitting even decently leave Moran at third until Hayes comes back.
They are going to have to do the same thing this year with Tucker.Yes,he may not hit much more than his weight,but he deserves a full time chance at his prime position.
The Pirates first round draft picks seem to take for ever to get to the majors and when they arrive most are below average MLB Players. Why does the Pirates not draft and develop players better?
Frustrated-That was the knock on the previous management team.
A small market team has to be much much better than mediocre to even be able to compete for playoff berths on any sort of consistent basis.
BC is trading to stock the lower minors.He is valuing quantity and some possible quality over the ML ready players done by NH.
This is supposedly the new management team’s forte.Let’s hope so.
Your moniker could be that of most of us.
I think Craig went 1-3 with a bomb today.
WILL Craig be Successful?
I guess Sean’ s bat wasnt POPPIN!
been lobbying for Craig since the Bell trade talks came up. guy has some power. IMO give him as much time as you can at least until Moran is back in the saddle and then give him some more time. I’d give him no less than 50 PA’s to see what he does. Now’s the time. We know what Moran can do, Evans can play other positions decently…. let him play for a bit. Won’t hurt much but the benefit could be pretty good