The Pirates announced that infielder Nick Gonzales has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list. Infielder/outfielder Nick Solak has been sent outright to Triple-A Indianapolis as a corresponding move. Solak has the right to elect free agency though the Bucs didn’t give any indication that he would do so. Righty Kyle Nicolas has also been recalled to take the roster spot vacated by Tanner Rainey being designated for assignment yesterday.
Solak, 30, was added to the roster just over two weeks ago. He didn’t get much action between then and now, getting just 11 plate appearances in four games. He recorded one hit, a single, and struck out twice. There wasn’t any previous indication he had been removed from the 40-man roster but it seems the Bucs quietly put him on waivers in recent days, presumably knowing that they would need a roster spot for Gonzales.
Once a notable prospect with the Rangers, Solak burst onto the scene in 2019 but has floundered in his subsequent big league appearances. He hit five home runs in his first 33 big league games while drawing walks at an 11.1% clip. That led to a .293/.393/.491 line and 126 wRC+ in that small sample. But in 850 plate appearances since that debut, he has hit .243/.314/.350 for a wRC+ of 86.
He only got into two big leagues games in 2023 and was stuck in the minors throughout 2024. He signed a minor league deal with the Pirates coming into 2025 and put up a huge .393/.452/.625 line in 32 Triple-A games. That was surely inflated by a .422 batting average on balls in play but he also had six home runs and a 9.5% walk rate. That got him up to the majors but, as mentioned, he didn’t get to play much.
Solak is out of options and can’t be sent to the minors without clearing waivers. Despite his huge Triple-A numbers this year, no club put in a claim. Since he has a previous career outright, he could elect free agency, though he would surely be limited to minor league offers. Whether it’s with the Pirates or another club, he figures to be getting playing time in Triple-A while hoping for a better major league chance in the future.
As for Gonzales, he suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left ankle during the first game of the season and has been on the IL since then. The seventh overall pick of the 2020 draft, he hasn’t hit much in the majors yet, with a .256/.300/.392 line and 88 wRC+ in 518 plate appearances. However, he put up a huge .301/.392/.531 line and 134 wRC+ in Triple-A over 2023 and 2024.
He has played a few different spots on the diamond but more second base than anywhere else. Gonzales is one of seven players the Bucs have used at the keystone this year. Adam Frazier has gotten the most playing time but Jared Triolo, Enmanuel Valdéz, Liover Peguero, Tsung-Che Cheng and Solak have also factored in. No one in that group has taken hold of the position so Gonzales might get a chance to seize it now that he’s healthy.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
I have a feeling that Gonzales is going to see more time at shortstop upon his return. He played more innings at shortstop than second base in his rehab at Triple-A. IKF hasn’t done great there, and Gonzales has far more range. Plus IKF is probably gonna get traded before the end of summer, and is a rental anway. Termarr Johnson is also doing well at Double-A, so get Gonzales more used to SS now so Johnson can take over 2B next year.
Whatever keeps Triolo out of the lineup is good with me.
I have been watching Indy’s games recently and the announcers said that they wanted to use Gonzalez at shortstop because of the potential for trading IKF at the deadline so MLB1225 is correct
I hope he doesn’t take away IKF playing time. He’s our best hitter right now. I would hope they move Frazier to the outfield so that DK doesn’t feel that he needs to play Pham at all.
But I agree that trading IKF is inevitable. Hopefully we get something for him. I’ve liked having him on our roster.
I don’t think he’ll take playing time away from IKF. It’ll probably be at the cost of Frazier and Triolo. IKF should go to second base and slide Gonzales to shortstop.
I wouldn’t hate that alignment. I think we need both IKF and Nick in the lineup. Frazier is a great off the bench option.
not in tonight’s game.
IKF at SS and Nick at second base
I wouldn’t trust Cherington to make any trades that would benefit this team
DLC anyone?
IKF needs to slide over to 3rd and Hayes needs to sit alittle more.
wvsteve
I didn’t understand signing him to a long term contract based on his injury history.
PR move to show they were somewhat serious about spending money. I think he is a solid player and have watched him since low A, but it was just a timely extension in front offices part.
Hayes didn’t have back problems when he signed the long term contract
Pirates probably claimed Simon yesterday figuring Solak may refuse his outright
Good point, and if so, shrewd move.
Solak is proof that you can hit well in the minors but doesn’t always translate into hitting major league pitching in the same manner
TheMan3
True but they never really gave him an opportunity mostly because the Pirates didn’t see many left hand starters
Those type of players are treated like rented mules.
He had to hit immediately to have any chance.
Solak is 15 PAs short of 1000 in the Majors. He’s had his chances many times. Now he’s just a body.
When is ke’willie may hayes over at 3B going to pick his bat up and reach potential? outside his glove, he is not producing.
Joey Bats looks like he has comeback to being a punchless catching option.
Hayes is batting ih front of IKF tonight when he shouldn’t even be in the lineup
He’s exceptional when he hits the ball the other way but sucks when he tries to pull the ball
Pirates are wasting a pretty good rotation that could become very good once they bring up some sure-fire prospects.
They need hitters and they can hop on win streaks.
Between the bullpen and lack of a offense this rotation is being wasted.
Look at Falter. 0.76 ERA last month in 6 starts and just over 35 innings. Just a really impressive run by the starters
Give Pham another 100 abuse and give Solak 100 ab’s. Pretty sure that Solak will produce more. Why not? About 3 mil reasons why.
Solak of playing time was an issue?
*claps*
I know that others will lay into me for saying this but Cruz strikes out too much for being the lead off hitter
Otherwise the Astros pitcher who had an era of close to 6 before the start was this game has held us scoreless in 5 innings so far while Skenes is pitching a gem
Sorry Nicholas, but SHOW ME THE MONEY!
shutout #10 for the season after 61 games and another strikeout performance by this lackluster offense
Canario, Dream’s buddy, struck out three times . In 37 games he has struck out 39 times.
Dream said that he just needs to play everyday: Well, he plays every. day
It remains an embarrassing time to be a Pirate fan