The Pirates announced some roster moves today, including the previously-reported selection of Miguel Andujar. They also reinstated righty Carmen Mlodzinski from the 15-day injured list to take the second extra spot on today’s expanded roster. Additionally, right-hander Max Kranick was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. To open spots on the 40-man for Andujar and Kranick, right-hander Yohan Ramirez and outfielder Calvin Mitchell were designated for assignment.
Mitchell, 24, was selected to the Pirates’ roster last year after a strong performance in Triple-A. He hit just .226/.286/.349 in his first 69 major league games and got optioned back down to the minors, but finished 2022 with a Triple-A batting line of .339/.391/.547. He’s only played two major league games this year, spending the majority of his season at Triple-A, where he’s had an unfortunate step back. He is hitting .264/.338/.426 for a wRC+ of 90 while striking out in 29.3% of his plate appearances, more than double the 14.6% rate he had in Triple-A last year.
Ramirez, 28, was acquired from the Guardians in a cash deal last summer. He had a tidy 1.25 earned run average through June 6 of this year but allowed 11 earned runs in 12 2/3 innings since then. In 22 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level this year, he has a 4.43 ERA. Control has generally been an issue for him, walking 12.5% of hitters in his major league career. He kept that to 9% in the majors this year but it’s been 12.4% in Triple-A.
The Bucs will place both players on waivers in the coming days. Mitchell is a former second-round pick who had a strong campaign last year. He still has another option year remaining after this one and less than a year of service time. Ramirez has been able to pair strikeouts with ground balls for much of his career but has struggled with the free passes. He can be optioned for the rest of this year but will be out of options next year. He can be retained for four seasons beyond this one but will have less roster maneuverability going forward.
It might be difficult to cut Mitchell if he showed any improvement during his young career but he is a strikeout machine and this franchise has more than enough players who strike out often
Mitchell is a consistent 40-homer guy in one of my OOTP saves
Then why has he never hit more than 15 in a single season in the minors?
It’s a game
It should also be mentioned that Yohan has plunked a combined 15 batters at both the Major and Minor league level this year.
Ouch.
Mitchell was just on the injured list
Mitchell didn’t do too bad in September last year. Batted .267/.360/.373 down the line. Kind of wish he got a little bit of a longer look after that. Yohan Ramirez is the definition of all stuff no command. Nasty 94-96 MPH sinker and wipeout sweeper. Command is something he just hasn’t figured out yet.
I think that both Ramirez and Mitchell have decent potential to be ML players but not as a starter or reliable reliever.
In some ways it shows Pirate roster improvement that these two were designated as they will probably both be picked up..
I am very surprised that they kept Rob Z and that they still may have some hope for Bido although they will need his spot for the 60 day iL pitchers.
It is good to see Carmen M back as he had the proverbial elbow issues which are hopefully a thing of the past.
Personally, I have hope for Bido. I hope he never pitches in the majors again this season
I totally agree with you
I think that your hope will come true.
Hopefully,the pitchers on the 28 man roster will finish the season well except that I do believe that they will try to bring Kranick up to get him three or four starts and send Bolton back down.