Pittsburgh Pirates: Club Claims Connor Overton Off Waivers
The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed right-handed pitcher Connor Overton off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Pittsburgh Pirates pitching staff has struggled this season. They have the third worst team ERA at 5.13 and rank 25th in strikeout percentage at 21.5 percent. They’ve dealt with some injuries to pitchers but overall as a unit have struggled. As a result, the club claimed right handed pitcher Connor Overton off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays today per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette:
Overton is a 28 year old relief pitcher that was a 15th round draft pick back in 2014. He has a career minor league ERA of 4.18 and made his Major League debut this season. He throws a fastball, slider, and changeup and sits in the mid 90s with the fastball. What Overton does is provide depth for the rest of the season for a pitching staff that has struggled. To get Overton on the roster, however, the Pittsburgh Pirates needed to make an additional move.
That move was to transfer Duane Underwood Jr.to the 60-day Injured List. Underwood was added to the Injured List yesterday with right shoulder inflammation. As a result, Underwood’s season is done. After being picked up by the Pirates before the season, Underwood threw 72.2 innings. In those innings, he posted a 4.33 ERA and 4.27 FIP. While his overall numbers were not strong, he did provide depth to a pitching staff as a multi inning reliever, which helped limit the workload on the pitchers that have dealt with injury and coming off a shortened 2020.
With the addition of Overton, the Pirates continue to stockpile much needed depth to complete the season. It also gives the Ben Cherington and the front office time to evaluate him to see if he is a fit for the 2022 bullpen. Unfortunately, that comes with Underwood’s season coming to an end.