DUANE UNDERWOOD JR. NEWS

Cut loose by Yankees The Yankees released Underwood from this minor-league contract Tuesday, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Impact The 30-year-old joined the Yankees on a minor-league deal during the offseason but will now hit the open market. Underwood posted a 3.26 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 40:24 K:BB across 38.2 innings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

AUGUST 6 • ROTOWIRE

Inks minors deal with Yankees Underwood signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Thursday and received an invitation to major-league spring training, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Impact Underwood registered a 5.18 ERA and 1.44 WHIP across 24.1 innings with the Pirates last season before being optioned to Triple-A, where his ERA jumped up to 6.30. He'll likely fill in as organizational bullpen depth with the Yankees and head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to begin 2024.

DECEMBER 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Elects free agency Underwood elected to become a free agent Wednesday.

Impact Underwood put up a 5.18 ERA and 1.44 WHIP through 24.1 innings with Pittsburgh in 2023, and his numbers in Triple-A weren't much better (6.30 ERA and 1.35 WHIP). The 29-year-old righty will now look to latch on with another organization -- likely on a minor-league deal.

OCTOBER 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Clears waivers, sent to Indy Underwood cleared waivers and accepted his outright assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Underwood was designated for assignment last Saturday and he will head to Triple-A now. The right-hander has produced an inflated 5.18 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 14 punchouts over 24.1 innings in 20 appearances with the Pirates this season and will look to use his time with Indianapolis to reset after he allowed 10 earned runs over 10.2 innings in May.

JUNE 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment Underwood was designated for assignment by the Pirates on Saturday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Impact Underwood will now either report to Triple-A Indianapolis, get claimed by another team or be released outright. The right-hander has produced a disappointing 5.18 ERA and 1.44 WHIP with 14 strikeouts over 24.1 innings in 20 appearances with the Pirates this year.

MAY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns with two-inning appearance Underwood (forearm) struck out two and gave up one run on two hits over two innings of relief in Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Rangers.

Impact Underwood was diagnosed with right forearm tightness after exiting his most recent appearance Friday against the Diamondbacks, and while that sort of injury is typically a precursor to an extended absence, the 28-year-old apparently required just a few days of rest for the issue to resolve itself. The fact that the Pirates had him cover two innings in a game that they were trailing by four runs suggests that the organization is confident in his health.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Leaves with forearm tightness Underwood left Friday's game against the Diamondbacks with right forearm tightness, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Impact Underwood allowed two earned runs before leaving in the seventh inning while getting just one out. Yohan Ramirez has taken over on the mound for Underwood against the Diamondbacks.

MAY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Breezes through save opportunity Underwood picked up the save Saturday against the Reds. He tossed one strikeout over two perfect innings.

Impact Underwood has now pitched eight scoreless appearances out of 10 total opportunities this season. The right-hander has been effective as both a setup man and closer, recording three holds and two saves thus far. The 28-year-old has also commanded the strike zone well, issuing just one free pass over 10.1 innings pitched so far.

APRIL 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Notches first save Underwood gave up a hit in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his first save of the season in a 4-1 win over the Red Sox.

Impact The right-hander needed only five pitches to breeze through the frame, erasing a Justin Turner leadoff single with a double play. David Bednar is entrenched as the Pirates' closer and already has three saves this season, but two of then had come in the last two days. It looks like Underwood will be the next man up for now any time Bednar is unavailable, which could give him some deep-league fantasy appeal for GMs speculating on a potential Bednar trade.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Puerto Rico pitchers perfect in 8-inning WBC win vs Israel

José De León and three relievers combined on a perfect pitching performance as Puerto Rico routed Israel 10-0 in a World Baseball Classic matchup called after eight innings because...

MARCH 14, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. routs Canada in WBC; Puerto Rico pitchers perfect

Mike Trout hit a three-run homer, Lance Lynn threw five impressive innings and the United States used a nine-run first to cruise past Canada 12-1 at the World Baseball Classic

MARCH 13, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Avoids arbitration Underwood signed a one-year, $1.025 million contract with the Pirates on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Impact In his second season with the Pirates, Underwood reached the double-digit hold mark for the first time in his career and recorded his first career save as well. If the 28-year old can continue to strike batters out at an acceptable rate (8.95 K/9 in 2022) and give up fewer long balls, there's a good chance the Pirates let him pitch more often in high-leverage situations in 2023.

JANUARY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates sign 3B Miguel Andújar to 1-year deal for $1,525,000

Recently acquired third baseman Miguel Andújar and the Pittsburgh Pirates have agreed to a $1,525,000, one-year contract

NOVEMBER 19, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bader has 2 go-ahead singles, 3 RBIs in Yankees debut

Harrison Bader drove in three runs with a pair of go-ahead singles, going 2 for 4 in a stunning 9-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates that marked his injury-delayed Yankees debut

SEPTEMBER 20, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Surging Blues Jays edge Pirates 4-3 to complete 3-game sweep

Teoscar Hernandez delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the seventh inning and the Toronto Blue Jays edged the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 to complete a three-game sweep

SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bichette's bases-clearing double leads Jays past Pirates 4-1

Bo Bichette hit a tiebreaking three-run double in the seventh inning to lift the Toronto Blue Jays to a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates

SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates rally by scuffling Brewers once again in 5-4 victory

Bryan Reynolds raced home on a wild pitch with one out in the 10th inning, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 to complete a three-game sweep

AUGUST 4, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hoskins' HR in 10th inning lifts Phillies past Pirates 4-2

Rhys Hoskins drilled a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the 10th to lift the Philadelphia Phillies past the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2

JULY 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Marlins score 3 in 10th to rally past Pirates 5-4

Jesús Aguilar hit a tying single and scored the winning run on a wild pitch as the Miami Marlins rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pira...

JULY 14, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

India, Drury key rally, Reds beat Pirates 5-1 to split DH

Jonathan India hit a go-ahead single, Brandon Drury added a two-run triple and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 to split a doubleheader

JULY 7, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cleared for return The Pirates reinstated Underwood (illness) from the COVID-19-related injured list Sunday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Impact Underwood will be available out of the Pittsburgh bullpen for Sunday's series finale with Milwaukee after he was able to regain his conditioning following a two-appearance rehab assignment at Double-A Altoona. Before testing positive for COVID-19 on June 13 and landing on the IL, Underwood gathered three holds and posted a 4.24 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 17 innings out of the big-league bullpen.

JULY 3, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Pirates face the Brewers leading series 2-1

The Pittsburgh Pirates lead 2-1 in a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers

JULY 3, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pittsburgh Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday

The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday

JULY 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates meet the Brewers after Perez's 3-home run game

The Pittsburgh Pirates take on the Milwaukee Brewers after Michael Perez hit three home runs on Thursday in an 8-7 win over the Brewers

JULY 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pirates meet the Brewers following Reynolds' 3-home run game

The Pittsburgh Pirates host the Milwaukee Brewers after Bryan Reynolds hit three home runs on Wednesday in an 8-7 win over the Nationals

JUNE 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS