Pittsburgh Pirates News: Team Claims Pitcher Off Waivers

On Wednesday the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed a right-handed pitcher off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies, adding him to the 40-man roster

Wednesday afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates added another pitcher to the mix. This move came when the team added a pitcher off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies in the form of right-handed reliever Adonis Medina.

The 25-year-old Medina is a Dominican native who entered the 2021 season as a top 15 prospect in the Phillies farm system. He pitched in 4 games, including a start, logging 7.2 MLB innings pitched last season. In these 7.2 innings pitched Medina allowed 3 runs on 9 hits, 4 walks, he hit 3 batters, and stuck out 6.

Medina made his MLB debut during the 2020 season when he made a start for the Phillies. In this start he pitched 4 innings, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. In 17 starts at the Triple-A level in 2021 Medina posted a 5.05 ERA, 4.86 FIP, 8.7% walk rate and an 18.5% strikeout rate.

FanGraphs rates Medina’s changeup as his best pitch making it a 55 grade pitch. His slider is a 45 grade pitch and his four-seamed fastball, that averages 93 MPH, is rated as a 40 grade pitch by FanGraphs.

While Medina was added to the 40-man roster, the 40-man roster of the Pittsburgh Pirates is currently full. Due to this the team will need to make a corresponding roster move in order to make room for Medina. As of this writing that move had not yet been announced.

It will be interesting to see how the Pirates use Medina. While he pitched out of the bullpen in 4 of his 5 MLB outings last season, it would appear to be more likely that the Pirates would have Medina start the season in the starting rotation at Triple-A Indianapolis. Either way it would not be a surprise to see Medina pitch in MLB innings with the Pirates this season.