APRIL 25, 2021•POST-GAZETTE.COM
Ben Cherington explains the changes Pirates have made to minor league spring trainingCherington said Sunday that they are still planning on the minor league season beginning in the next week or so.
Notes: Simmons back soon; manager pranksMINNEAPOLIS -- Twins shortstop Andrelton Simmons will travel with the team to Cleveland on this coming road trip as planned and appears to b...
APRIL 25, 2021•MLB.COM
Ka'ai Tom - Likely to join team TuesdayPirates general manager Ben Cherington said he expects Tom to join the team in Pittsburgh ahead of Tuesday's series opener in Kansas City, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.
ImpactTom has yet to join the team since being claimed off waivers from Oakland on Wednesday, presumably for COVID-19 intake testing-related reasons. He won't count against the Pirates' 26-man active roster for the time being, but Pittsburgh will have to clear a spot for him once he's officially in the fold. Tom could end up getting a look in center field after the Pirates already dropped their primary two options at the position -- Dustin Fowler and Anthony Alford -- from the 40-man roster last week.
APRIL 25, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Geoff Hartlieb - Moves back to alt siteThe Pirates optioned Hartlieb to their alternate training site, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
ImpactHe was sent down to open up a spot on the active roster for right-hander Wil Crowe, who is slated to make a spot start Sunday in Minnesota. Hartlieb didn't make any appearances out of the bullpen during his brief stint with the Pirates.
APRIL 25, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Erik González - Settling into regular dutiesGonzalez will start at third base and bat fifth Sunday against the Twins.
ImpactWith Phillip Evans spending more time in the outfield following the Pirates' recent decisions to remove Dustin Fowler and Anthony Alford from the 40-man roster, Gonzalez has been able to pick up steady work in the infield. Gonzalez will be making his eighth consecutive start Sunday.
APRIL 25, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Cody Stashak - Moves back to active rosterThe Twins recalled Stashak from their alternate training site Sunday.
ImpactMinnesota optioned Devin Smeltzer to its alternate site to make room in the bullpen for Stashak, who gave up four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out 12 over his five innings with the Twins earlier this season.
APRIL 25, 2021•ROTOWIRE
Ryan Jeffers - Takes seat SundayJeffers is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
ImpactJeffers will head to the bench in favor of Mitch Garver after making three of the last four starts at catcher. While Jeffers hasn't necessarily leapfrogged Garver on the depth chart at this point, the two appear to have settled into more of a timeshare behind the dish after Garver entered the season as the No. 1 option. Neither player has been able to get much going at the plate, with Jeffers posting a .442 OPS (in 33 plate appearances) and Garver providing a .594 OPS (49 plate appearances).
APRIL 25, 2021•ROTOWIRE
