Pittsburgh Pirates to Recall Tucupita Marcano

According to Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the Pittsburgh Pirates are set to recall super utility man Tucupita Marcano

In recent days the youth movement has been on for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Since Sunday, the team has promoted top relief pitching prospects Yerry De Los Santos, top starting pitching prospects Roansy Contreras, and outfield prospect Cal Mitchell. It appears that another prospect is on the way.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey, super utility prospect Tucupita Marcano will be the next to get the call.

This is a well deserved promotion for Marcano. In 112 plate appearances for Double-A Altoona this season Marcano has hit for a .304/.405/.489 slash line to go with a 147 wRC+. He’s walked at a 15.2% rate, struck out in 21.4% of his trips to the plate, has collected 11 extra base hits, and has stolen 2 bases.

It is fitting that Marcano will be recalled ahead of a three-game series in San Diego against the Padres. Marcano was acquired from San Diego last summer as one of the two big pieces, along with National League rookie home run leader Jack Suwinski, in exchange for Adam Frazier.

The question now becomes who will Marcano replace on the active roster? By June 1st, which is next Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates will need to trim their active roster down to 13 pitchers instead of 14. Due to this it could be a pitcher who is the odd man out. However, it would make sense to wait until Wednesday to trim the roster to 13 pitches.

It’s also possible that Diego Castillo will be optioned to the minors to create a roster spot for Marcano. In the last two weeks Castillo has had the least amount of playing time of any Pirate position player sans the backup catcher.

After being he star of spring training Castillo has struggled this season. In 107 plate appearances this season the 24-year-old Castillo has hit for just a .238/.271/.337 slash line to go with a 73 wRC+, so it is easy to see the Pirates looking to give someone else an opportunity in Castillo’s super utility role.

This will be the second stint of the season for Marcano with the Pirates. Marcano was 1-for-2 with a double in his one appearance with the team while Cole Tucker was on the COVID IL earlier this season.

Let the youth movement continue.