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When reports first emerged on Wednesday that the Pittsburgh Pirates had called up hot-hitting prospect Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis, fans on social media were ecstatic – but perhaps for the wrong reasons.
When Alex Stumpf of MLB.com first reported the news on X, fans immediately flooded the replies with all-caps messages of hope and excitement because they thought that Cook's call-up could only mean one thing – that maligned outfielder Tommy Pham had been designated for assignment.
Clearly, those hopeful fans had overlooked one not-so-minor detail – namely, that the Pirates were short one outfielder after Bryan Reynolds left in the second inning of Tuesday's series opener against the Detroit Tigers to be with his wife as she went into labor with their third child. He's now on the paternity list for a maximum of three days and will presumably miss the remainder of the series in Detroit.
In other words, Pham isn't going anywhere. Oh, well. Can't blame the fans for wishful thinking.
You guys do remember that an outfielder left in the second inning yesterday to go on paternity leave, right?
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) June 18, 2025
Pirates promote Billy Cook from Triple-A, place Bryan Reynolds on paternity list
Cook, the Pirates' No. 18 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has been swinging a hot bat at Indianapolis. He currently ranks second in the International League with a .442 batting average and a .529 on-base percentage in the month of June, while his 22 hits this month rank first.
Cook is slashing .271/.353/.335 on the season with 11 doubles, no home runs and 20 RBI in 61 games. He made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh last year after being acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles, and he hit .224 with three homers, a pair of doubles and eight RBI in 16 Major League games last September.
Cook offers the Pirates a right-handed bat and a versatile glove. He can play all three outfield positions, and he has also made 12 of his 56 starts with Indianapolis this season at first base.
So, take heart, Pirates fans. Pham and his abysmal .196 batting average remain on the team (for now), but if Cook's bat stays hot in the big leagues, perhaps he won't be the outfielder who gets booted off the roster once Reynolds returns.
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