3 forgotten players the Pirates wish they hadn’t let go

2. Edwin Uceta

Another player you probably don't remember the Pirates having in their system was Edwin Uceta. He was a Pirate for less than a week, lasting from April 2, 2023, when the Pirates claimed him off waivers from the Detroit Tigers, up through April 6, 2023, when the New York Mets claimed him off waivers from the Pirates. Up to this point in his career, Uceta was an up-and-down depth reliever, having pitched 37.1 innings in 2021 and 2022 with the LA Dodgers and Arizona D-Backs, allowing 26 earned runs, 19 walks, and five home runs.

Uceta's time with the Mets was also unremarkable. He appeared in just a single game in the big leagues for them before once again getting claimed off waivers, this time from the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 18. He'd last less than a month with the Cubs before they released him on Sept. 12, and it wouldn't be until Dec. 12 that the Tampa Bay Rays picked him up.

The Rays, known for their ability to take depth players like Uceta and turn them into quality MLB players, did just that. Last season, Uceta pitched 41.2 innings, working to a 1.51 ERA, 1.70 FIP, and 0.82 WHIP. The right-hander struck out 35.8% of his opponents with a walk rate of just 5%. He was also not prone to home runs or hard contact, with an 0.43 HR/9 ratio, 87.3 MPH exit velocity, and 4.3% barrel percentage. Uceta had just a 95 Stuff+ from 2021 through 2023, but that skyrocketed to 107 in 2024 with the Rays.

The Pirates are far from the only team wishing they gave Uceta a longer look. He was a part of five MLB organizations (including the Bucs) and four in the span of four months. None of those organizations gave him even 15 games to prove himself before he landed in Tampa Bay's lap (and lab). We'll see if Uceta can have another strong season in 2025, but I'm sure the D-Backs, Dodgers, Tigers, Pirates, Mets, and Cubs would like to have him in their bullpen.