Pittsburgh Pirates: Miguel Yajure to Start on Friday Night

The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that right-handed pitching prospect Miguel Yajure will start for the team on Friday night

Earlier in the day on Friday the Pittsburgh Pirates added first baseman Will Craig to their active roster. When Craig arrived in Pittsburgh, it was reported by multiple people that pitcher Miguel Yajure had also arrived in the Burgh.

Well, late Thursday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates made a roster move to add Yajure to their active roster. The Pirates have optioned reliever Geoff Hartlieb back to the Triple-A level to make room for Yajure. This move was made for Yajure to start for the Pirates on Friday night.

With Yajure taking the mound on Friday night it will push the rest of the Pirate starting rotation back a day. Tyler Anderson will now start on Saturday night against the Giants, while the struggling Mitch Keller will take the ball in Sunday afternoon’s series finale.

Friday night will be Yajure’s second career MLB start. His first came earlier this season with the Pittsburgh Pirates when he allowed 4 runs in 4.1 innings of work. In this start Yajure pitched better than the final stat line, allowing just 4 hits, walking a pair and striking out 4. He was also hurt by some poor defense in the start.

This will present an opportunity for Yajure who is one of the top pitching prospects in the Pirate farm system. If Yajure pitches well he could pitch his way into a permanent spot in the Pirate starting rotation, especially if Keller continues to struggles.

As was mentioned above, to make room for Yajure on the active roster Hartlieb was optioned back to the Triple-A level. In one outing this season Hartlieb allowed 3 runs on 2 hits and 3 walks in 2 innings pitched. In his MLB career the righty owns a 7.13 ERA, 5.14 FIP, 5.18 DRA and a 14.1% walk rate.