On Wednesday evening, the Pittsburgh Pirates updated their 40-man roster with updated numbers for players for the 2021 season
Ladies and gentlemen, we have officially reached the part of the offseason where news can get slow for MLB teams. This certainly includes the Pittsburgh Pirates. On Wednesday, however, we did get some news.
Wednesday evening the official website of the Pittsburgh Pirates updated their 40-man roster. They did this by updating player numbers on the roster. So, which Pirate players are entering 2021 with a new number?
We will start with players who made their MLB debut in 2020 and are upgrading over numbers in the 60s and 70s that go to new players. Outfielder Jared Oliva goes from being number 76 to being number 14. Reliever Blake Cederlind upgrades from number 62 to number 49, while fellow reliever Nick Mears goes from number 70 to 36.
Staying in the bullpen, Michael Feliz has switched form number 49 back to number 45. This comes after Feliz wore number 49 in 2020 after being number 45 in 2018 and 2019. Tyler Bashlor switched form number 67 to number 38, and Nik Turley dropped number 71 in exchange for number 51.
The Pittsburgh Pirates also handed out numbers to players who previously did not have numbers. Rule 5 Draft selection Jose Soriano was assigned number 72, while Luis Oviedo who the Pirates traded for during the Rule 5 Draft was given number 57. Sean Poppen, who was calimed off waivers earlier in the offseason, was given number 62, while Carson Fulmer was assigned number 56.
Three other players who appeared with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2020 have changed hteir numbers. Reliever Austin Davis has switched from number 75 to number 35, while fellow pitcher JT Brubaker is now number 44 after rocking 65 in 2020. Furthermore, utility man Phillip Evans who is likely to play a big role for the Pirates in 2021 has switched from number 65 to number 24.
With this latest slew of number assignments only one player on the Pirate 40-man roster is without a number. This is infielder Rodolfo Castro who was added to the 40-man roster earlier in the offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.