Pittsburgh Pirates News: Three Players Placed on the IL

Prior to the start of Tuesday evening’s game at PNC Park the Pittsburgh Pirates placed three players on the injured list

Tuesday afternoon was a busy one at PNC Park. Prior to Tuesday night’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Pittsburgh Pirates placed three players on the injured list.

The first move saw the Pirates place left-handed reliever Anthony Banda on the 10-day injured list with a non-COVID illness, promoting fellow left-handed reliever Sam Howard to take Banda’s place on the active roster.

Howard started the season on the injured list, before being activated and optioned to Triple-A. Banda was off to a strong start this season, having posted a 2.08 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 29.4% strikeout rate, and he had not walked a batter in 4.1 innings pitched. Hopefully, Banda will not miss much time for the Bucs.

Close to game time the Pittsburgh Pirates then placed superstar center fielder Bryan Reynolds and utility man Cole Tucker on the COVID-19 IL. To replace them on the roster the Pirates promoted outfielder Jack Suwinski and utility man Tucupita Marcano from Double-A Altoona.

While this was Suwinski’s first promotion to the major leagues, it is the second for Marcano. However, it is Marcano’s first MLB promotion as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is fitting that Suwinski and Marcano were promoted for their Pirate debuts together as both players came to the organization as part of the Adam Frazier trade last summer.

Manager Derek Shelton wasted no time getting Suwinski in the lineup. Tuesday night he found himself in right field, batting 8th for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hopefully, for however long Reynolds is out, the Pirates will give Suwinski a legitimate look in the outfield.

The 23-year-old Suwinski was hitting for a .353/.421/.686 slash line to go with a 197 wRC+ and a 19.3% extra base hit rate for the Curve. With high power potential and good on-base skills, Suwinski is a name to know for Pirate fans moving forward.