The Pirates reportedly plan to call up IF/OF Jose Osuna and LHP Brandon Waddell from Altoona. Waddell will replace RHP Nick Mears, who made his major league debut yesterday. The team apparently needs a full complement of 15 pitchers to get through today’s game, with three days off afterward due to the cancellation of their series with St. Louis. Waddell spent most of last year at Indianapolis, serving as a swing man. He fanned over ten batters per nine innings, but had an ERA of 8.70.
Osuna almost certainly will replace Phillip Evans, who left yesterday’s game on a stretcher after a collision with Gregory Polanco. Osuna, of course, started the season with the Pirates, batting 158/238/316.
Some sort of roster move will be necessary to make room for Waddell. That could mean Evans going on the 45-day injured list.
UPDATE: Evans has a broken jaw and is likely done for the year. Obviously, that sucks bigly, but he’s certainly earned a longer look going forward.
UPDATE #2: Pirates make it official. Evans to 45-day IL, Mears down, Osuna and Waddell up.
