The Pirates will select the contract of right-hander Jerad Eickhoff, as first reported by Jarrod Prugar of DK Sports Pittsburgh (Twitter link). Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette hears the same and takes a look at Eickhoff’s road back to the Majors after beginning the year in minor league camp during Spring Training. Pittsburgh’s 40-man roster is currently full, so they’ll need to make a corresponding move.
Eickhoff, 31, is a veteran of six big league seasons, most of which have come with the cross-state Phillies. He spent the 2021 season in the Mets organization and made a handful of spot starts for an injury-depleted rotation, serving up 19 runs in 19 2/3 innings. The majority of the damage against Eickhoff came in his final outing, though, when the Mets left him on the hill to take a 10-run shellacking in 3 1/3 innings versus Atlanta.
Prior to last year’s rough stint in Queens, Eickhoff had been a generally solid contributor in Philly. His numbers dipped in his final year with the club, but Eickhoff nonetheless notched a 4.15 ERA over the course of 459 2/3 innings as a member of the Phils, striking out 21.4% of his opponents against a strong 6.8% walk rate.
Those big league numbers with the Phillies fall closely in line with Eickhoff’s career marks at the Triple-A level (4.29 ERA, 22% strikeout rate, 7.2% walk rate). That includes a 2022 season in which he’s logged 48 1/3 innings foe the Pirates’ Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. In that time, Eickhoff has posted a 4.84 ERA with strikeout and walk rates close to his career norms. He’s made seven relief appearances and six starts so far in Triple-A, though he hasn’t topped 81 pitched or completed six innings in any single outing this year.
There’s no obvious 60-day IL candidate for the Pirates, who have a a full 40-man roster after acquiring Eric Stout from the Cubs earlier today. Pittsburgh also has infielder Tucupita Marcano and righty Duane Underwood Jr. on the Covid-related IL, and they’ll need a pair of spots once that duo is cleared for reinstatement. Based on Eickhoff’s forthcoming promotion and that pair of IL usages, it would seem there’s a decent bit of roster maneuvering on the horizon for the Bucs.
JEickhoff looked like a nice 3 or 4 starter back in 2016. It’s too bad injuries took their toll.
Trying to come up with reasons to call up Eickhoff. My pen hasn’t moved yet.
I would wave goodbye to Yoshi, and Embree to start.
Why select Eickhoff when Cody Bolton is doing good at Indy?
guessing that they are rewarding Eickhoff and the he will be gone as soon as the next 40 ,an is needed for Underwood coming back from the Covid IL. I am guessing that they will be careful with Bolton for this season since he had not pitched since 2019 because of Covid then njury. Maybe we will see him as a late call up
Because Eickoff is a 31 year old getting a final look as a Pirate either in a spot start or relief role. Bolton is a potential long term piece who will get regular starts once Quintana is traded or another starter is out long term.
Bolton needs to be added to 40 man before rule 5. Eickhoff is gone after this season if he’s not on MLB roster
He will be. Several guys will be dropped and several guys added.
METS LEGEND Jerad Eickhoff
Temporary move till Underwood is ready to be reinstated. Reward for putting in the work and did not do to badly. He will be gone soon.
Not if he pitches well. Will be around until at least the trade deadline.
So he can help the guys teams would actually trade for clean out their lockers
Eickoff pal!
Rhymes with jagoff.
Hopefully he pitches well otherwise the jeers will be too easy for the yinzers.
Forwhomthejoshbelltrolled….speaking of jagoffs…must be hell to be one? Eh troll?
My bets are Chang and Hembree or Banda to get DFA’d.
Eickhoff was actually a decent pitcher for the Phillies and I was surprised when they gave up on him.He is replacing Thompson who is on the IL.Hoepfully he turns out to be a decent pitcher as Quintana will probably be gone at the trade deadline but I wouldn’t just give him away as long as he keeps up the good work.
You are right, Hembree is gone. Chang probably next. Don’t know what is wrong with Banda, he is either real good or real bad. I was hoping Eickhoff would help but just saw that he is getting bombed and even hit 3 batters. He may hit the waiver wire before Chang.
Parj-Sometimes these guys make it easy on management to make a decision.There is no way that they can keep Eickhoff as they need to make room on the roster.
Cutting the Pirates 40-man roster isn’t the challenge. Stopping is.
Actually with the additions of several prospects who were not on the 40 , it is getting more difficult. Several vets who will be cut or traded are on the 60 day IL so not counting against the 40 man.
Mario-I would have agreed with you a month ago but with several players coming off the IL they will need to make a number of cuts and send some to AAA.
At that point I think that both the 25 and 40 man rosters will take decent shape.
They will be a very young team with players who are learning in the MLs.I think that 71 wins is a worthy and attainable goal this year and 81 next year.They will soon be competitive for a playoff berth and we shall see how much Nutting will add to provide a very good team.