Pirates demote reliever after he nearly ruined Braxton's Ashcraft's first MLB start

The Pittsburgh Pirates have optioned relief pitcher Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of Tuesday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, per a report from Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The decision comes after Stratton nearly spoiled Braxton Ashcraft's first Major League start on Monday with a rocky relief appearance against the Brewers. After Ashcraft allowed one hit and no walks over three scoreless innings with two strikeouts, Stratton was roughed up for three runs on four hits over an inning of work before getting yanked from the game in favor of Chase Shugart.

It is not yet known who will take Stratton's spot on the Pirates' active roster, but it will likely be another fresh bullpen arm. Pittsburgh used five pitchers, including Ashcraft and Stratton, in Monday's bullpen game while giving lefty starter Andrew Heaney an extra day of rest after he pitched in last week's doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers.

Pirates demote Hunter Stratton after he nearly ruined Braxton's Ashcraft's first MLB start

Ashcraft did not factor into the decision in the Pirates' 5-4 win over the Brewers on Monday, but he certainly impressed in his first Major League start.

The 25-year-old rookie, selected in the second round (No. 51 overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft, had spent almost the entirety of his minor league career as a starter. He had a 3-3 record and a 5.03 ERA through 10 starts at Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the 2025 season.

Since getting called up in late May, however, Ashcraft had made all seven of his big league appearances out of the bullpen. Even though he wasn't expected to pitch deep into Monday's contest, Ashcraft's history as a starter probably could have allowed him to go at least another inning. In his three innings against the Brewers, he threw 35 total pitches (28 for strikes).

Despite the brevity of his outing on Monday, it could be a promising sign for the Pirates as they look to potentially incorporate Ashcraft into their big league rotation. Through 14 2/3 total Major League innings, he has pitched to a 1.23 ERA, a 1.09 WHIP and a 12:6 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

By contrast, Stratton has pitched to a 23.63 ERA over 2 2/3 innings and recorded just one strikeout at the Major League level. It feels safe to assume that he won't be back in Pittsburgh anytime soon.

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