HOGLUND, PITTSBURGH
CAN'T REACH AGREEMENT; CERVELLI MAKES REHAB START
The Pirates recalled outfielder Jordan Luplow from
Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned right-hander Clay Holmes to
Class A Advanced Bradenton before Friday's series opener against the Phillies
at PNC Park, swapping out a spot starter/long reliever for a bench bat.
Luplow hit a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning and scored
a run in the Pirates' 17-5
loss.
Taking the injured Joe Musgrove's spot in
the rotation, Holmes stepped out of the bullpen to start for the Bucs in Wednesday's
6-4 loss at Dodger Stadium. The Pirates presumably sent
Holmes to Bradenton so he can pitch on turn; the All-Star break for Triple-A
Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona runs from Monday through Wednesday.
Luplow made his Major League debut last season and hit .205
with a .660 OPS in 27 games. The right-handed-hitting outfielder has heated up
after a slow start in Indianapolis, batting .330/.412/.561 with eight homers in
243 plate appearances since May 1.
The Pirates are already carrying four outfielders who start
on a regular basis: Corey
Dickerson, Starling Marte, Gregory
Polanco and Austin Meadows.
DRAFT SIGNING
DEADLINE
The Pirates did not come to an agreement with Competitive Balance Round A pick
Gunnar Hoglund before Friday's 5 p.m. ET deadline to sign players selected in
last month's MLB Draft.
The Pirates took Hoglund, a right-hander out of Fivay High
School in Florida, with the 36th overall pick. The 6-foot-4 Mississippi commit
told the Tampa Bay Times after the Draft that he agreed to terms with the Bucs,
but the two sides were not able to complete a deal. Hoglund's pick came with a
slot value of $1,967,900.
Pittsburgh signed its top selection, first-round outfielder
Travis Swaggerty, and 21 of its first 22 picks. The Pirates on Friday announced
the signing of 13th-round pick Zack Kone, an infielder from Duke, and assigned
him to short-season Class A West Virginia. According to MLB.com's Jim Callis,
Kone received an over-slot bonus of $166,700.
INJURY UPDATES
Catcher Francisco
Cervelli (concussion) began a Minor League rehab assignment
on Thursday with Double-A Altoona. Cervelli, who had been sidelined since June
21, went 0-for-3 with two walks and a pair of strikeouts as Altoona's
designated hitter.
Manager Clint Hurdle said Cervelli has been participating in
extensive pregame workouts and various catching drills while catching pitchers'
bullpen sessions, so the Pirates don't feel it is necessary for him to catch in
games. They do want him getting as many at-bats as possible, however, which is
why he returned to Altoona's lineup as the DH on Friday.
Musgrove (right index finger infection) played catch on
Friday afternoon. If he feels good on Saturday, he will throw a bullpen
session. That would set him up to start on Tuesday, the day he is eligible to
come off the 10-day disabled list. The fact that the Bucs optioned Holmes on
Friday would seem to indicate that they believe Musgrove will be ready to make
his next start.
Right-hander Michael Feliz (shoulder
inflammation) is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game on Saturday.
NEW-LOOK LINEUP
Hurdle moved around two prominent players in Friday's lineup, slotting first
baseman Josh Bell into
the leadoff spot and dropping Josh Harrison to
seventh in the order. Bell hit leadoff for the second time in his Major League
career, the first coming Sept. 30, 2016, while Harrison was out of the top
three for the first time this season.
Hurdle said he was influenced by each player's performance
over the previous 30 days. During that stretch, Bell was one of the Pirates'
best hitters, slashing .301/.402/.425 with as many walks (13) as strikeouts.
Meanwhile, Harrison hit just .242/.275/.326 with 12 strikeouts and two walks.
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