2 players the Pittsburgh Pirates need to call up to provide a spark

In the last two series, the Pirates have gone 3-3 and have only scored 14 runs. Their pitching has carried them, but if the offense doesn't improve, then they will keep dropping further below .500. Their lineup is in need of reinforcements, and before the trades begin to happen, they should consider promoting two bats at Triple-A to provide a spark to the offense. The spark that these two players will provide will come not just with their performance, but with their electric energy, too.

The Pirates should promote Josh Palacios and Liover Peguero to the big leagues.

Josh Palacios was one of the Pirates' main outfielders during the second half of 2023. He had a lot of clutch and exciting moments that built his reputation in the 'Burgh. Although his stats were not so great overall, he brought a lot of energy that the team desperately needed. This season, he has battled multiple injuries, but he is now healthy and playing with Indianapolis.

In just 15 games with Indianapolis, Palacios has a batting average of .264 with a home run and four runs batted in. He also has an OPS of .727, which includes an on-base percentage of .350 and a slugging percentage of .377. His wRC+ is at 93 and strikeout percentage is at 20%. Although these numbers aren't excellent, they would be an improvement from Jack Suwinski, who desperately needs to be demoted to find a groove and uncover some consistency.

Liover Peguero is another high-energy player that the Pirates could benefit from. He was the Pirates' second-half shortstop after Chris Owings and Tucupita Marcano did not work out last year. As a rookie, he performed solidly, but ultimately did not do enough to solidify a spot on the 2024 roster. Similarly to Palacios, Peguero has not been his best at the plate, but would be an upgrade to the current team in Pittsburgh.

In 64 games this season, Peguero has a batting average of .264 with four home runs and 38 runs batted in. He also has an OPS of .714, which includes an on-base percentage of .325 and a slugging percentage of .389. His wRC+ is low at 83 and his strikeout rate is at 21.6%. Despite his stats also being relatively pedestrian, they are an improvement from Jared Triolo, who should also be sent down. Triolo's defense is elite, but his offense has been very poor. Peguero's defense has improved and he can be a solid guy off the bench.

These two players would be immediate upgrades to the offense and could help the Pirates produce more runs. Their stats may not indicate that they would be huge boosts to the offense, but they showed in the majors last season that they can be solid hitters. Both players play with a lot of energy, which brings a lot of excitement to the clubhouse, something these current Pirates are desperately missing.