Sad News Saturday: Pirates Kyle McPherson Gets Sent To DL

Kyle McPherson was sent to the DL today.

It didn’t take long to see that something wasn’t right with Kyle McPherson.  The right-hander had made two starts at Triple-A Indianapolis and neither reminded anyone of the McPherson we have come to know.

It was especially concerning last night.  McFear was getting knocked around by Triple-A Columbus while the Cincy Reds lineup–one he had handled so masterfully months earlier, was doing its best to give the Bucs Major League pitching staff fits.   The warning lights went off in a big way.

The 6’4″ Mobile, Alabama native was able to get only five outs in the start against Columbus.  McPherson allowed seven hits and seven runs while walking two and striking out one.

Sorry, that’s not McFear.

In two starts, he has pitched 4.2 innings and allowed eleven hits–no homers, but ten earned runs while walking four and striking out just two.  The numbers just don’t add up.  We reached out and got the news we were thinking all along since the Bucs shut down the 25-year old in winter ball.

According to our source, McPherson doesn’t know what’s wrong; he has been attempting to battle through pain in his forearm for some time, but it has gotten worse.  It’s going to get checked out and then a formal announcement and plan of action will be decided upon.

Pretty shitty news for a pitcher a lot of Pirates fans were cheering so hard to make it in 2013.  Let’s trust the setback is somehow only temporary, and McFear can return to his old self quickly.