Pittsburgh Pirates News: Kyle Crick’s Season Ends After Altercation With Felipe Vazquez

Things continue to go sideways for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Entering the Major League Baseball All-Star Break the Pittsburgh Pirates were the hottest team in baseball. The Bucs had won 5 of 7 and 14 of 21. This stretch got the team to 44-45 on the season, 2.5 games out of both first place in the National League Central and the second National League Wild Card spot.

Well, since the All-Star Break has ended everything that can go wrong for the Pirates has. The team is putting together one of the worst second halves in MLB history owning a 19-36 record, which has dropped them well out of postseason contention. Furthermore, since the break there after been multiple altercations in the Pirate clubhouse/bullpen between players and coaches that have led to suspension.

On Tuesday night, the Pirates released a statement addressing the latest such clubhouse incident. Prior to Monday’s game against the Giants, closer Felipe Vazquez and set up man Kyle Crick got into an altercation in the Pirate clubhouse. This led to both men being fined, and Crick injuring his finger. This injury caused Crick to have season ending surgery on Tuesday afternoon.

This is not the first time this season Crick has gotten into trouble with the team. The former first round pick of the Giants, who was acquired as part of the Andrew McCutchen trade, was involved in an altercation with bullpen coach Euclides Rojas in late July. This led to Rojas being suspended. Crick has also been suspended this season, but that was due to his role in the melee with the Cincinnati Reds on July 29th.

Since Crick has gotten himself into trouble multiple times this season it would not be a surprised to see him traded this offseason. Especially if Crick is having problems with Vazquez, who is one of the team’s best players and clubhouse leaders. It is going to be an interesting offseason for the Pirates.