Pittsburgh Pirates Promote Two Players ahead of Tuesday’s Game

The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted two players on Tuesday ahead of their scheduled game versus the Milwaukee Brewers in response to recent trades.

The Pittsburgh Pirates promoted RHP Cody Ponce from Triple-A as well as second baseman Rodolfo Castro from Double-A in response to the trade with the Padres and Phillies. RHP Max Kranick is in Pittsburgh and will eventually take over for Tyler Anderson on the rotation.

Cody Ponce is to take over a roster spot for RHP Clay Holmes against the Brewers on Tuesday because he was recently traded to the Yankees in exchange for two prospects. Ponce has made two starts and three appearances in 2021 and is 0-2 with an 11.17 ERA and 9 strikeouts over 9.2 innings. The 27-year old’s future with the Pirates is unknown and the time he spends with the club might determine if he will be back next spring.

Max Kranick is in Pittsburgh and presumably will be added to the 40-man roster sometime before he takes the big league mound in the coming days. Kranick has appeared three times this season and is 1-1 with a 5.73 ERA and 11 strikeouts over 11 innings pitched. He threw 5 innings of no-hit ball during his Pittsburgh Pirates’ debut and got his first career win. Kranick, 24, has shown promise throughout his first three games and is a talent to watch for the rest of the season.

Rodolfo Castro is filling up a roster spot for beloved All-Star Adam Frazier who was traded to the Padres on Sunday. Castro spent time in the big leagues before the All-Star break and is batting .214/.313/.857 in the majors and had only three hits and four RBIs but had three home runs. Rodolfo is another one of the Pirates’ many promising infielders who can do a little bit of everything offensively and play solid defense. Rodolfo Castro and Wilmer Difo will likely rotate between responsibilities at second base for the time being.