Pirates add former Tigers outfielder in frustratingly familiar move

Really? Another glove-first utility man?
Kansas City Royals v Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals v Detroit Tigers | Duane Burleson/GettyImages

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a quiet roster move late Sunday evening, claiming utility man Ryan Kreidler off waivers from the Detroit Tigers. The 27-year-old was added to the Pirates' 40-man roster – which is now at capacity – and subsequently optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, according to his transactions log.

Kreidler rather shockingly made the Tigers' Opening Day roster this year due to a series of injuries that decimated the club's center field depth, but he appeared in just 17 games. During his brief MLB stint in 2025, he slashed .105/.190/.105 for an OPS of .295 with 19 strikeouts and a pair of stolen bases.

Kreidler was optioned in April to Triple-A Toledo, where he spent the rest of this season until the Tigers designated him for assignment on Friday. He slashed .251/.374/.410 for an OPS of .784 in 84 games with Toledo, including 25 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 37 RBI, 50 walks and 93 strikeouts.

Kreidler was originally selected by Detroit in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He spent three other short stints with the Tigers from 2022-24, appearing in a career-high 35 Major League games in 2024. In 89 career MLB games, he has slashed just .138/.208/.176 with a 31.8% strikeout rate.

Pirates add former Tigers outfielder Ryan Kreidler in frustratingly familiar move

Kreidler's offensive numbers at the Major League level are an abomination, even for a bench player. But what he lacks in offensive ability he makes up for with defensive versatility, having spent time at shortstop, second base, third base, left field and center field throughout his career.

In other words, Kreidler is exactly the type of player the Pirates already have too many of: a glove-first utility man with perfectly respectable Triple-A numbers that don't translate at the big league level.

The good news is that even though he is on the 40-man roster, Kreidler likely won't be seeing time in Pittsburgh this season. He can, however, help the Pirates' Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis who currently has a trio of outfielders on the 7-day injured list in Matt Frazier, Billy Cook and Ji Hwan Bae.

More Pirates content from Rum Bunter