9 Pirates you totally forgot wore Jaromir Jagr's number

Player numbers are always an important part of any professional organization. They symbolize greatness and forever being a part of an organization. For the Pittsburgh Pirates, numbers like Roberto Clemente's #21, Ralph Kiner's #4, and of course, Willie Stargell's #8 represent the franchise's rich history well. Today, February 18, 2024, another Pittsburgh sports legend will have his number retired.

While Jaromir Jagr played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, he had a larger impact on the city as a whole. Pittsburgh is a sports town and Jagr helped bring championships to a town that was starved for one. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Pirates were just as good as any team in baseball at that juncture but instead were known for coming up short in the playoffs. No one knew at the time that these would be the last respectable Pirate teams for 20 years.

One of the other more notable aspects of Jagr was that he was iconic on the ice. His play obviously stood out, but one could find him on the ice by just looking for his black flow. However, his #68 would become just as iconic and would eventually become tied to his legacy.

Unfortunately, things did not exactly go well at the end of his time with the Penguins. Like the Pirates trying to produce a winning team for 20 years, it took 20+ years for the Pittsburgh Penguins to retire #68. Well, today they are doing that. This got me wondering, which players have worn #68 in Pirates history? Actually, there are quite a few familiar names. This will go in order of when each of the players appeared wearing the number:

Pittsburgh Pirates players who wore Jaromir Jagr's #68

The first two players to wear #68 had the least amount of action for the Pirates in the number. Jim Dougherty's tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates spanned the 1999 season, where he appeared in just two games as a relief pitcher. He pitched just two innings and gave up two earned runs. That is all he did for the organization. Overall, his career produced a modest 8–4 record. Dougherty had played two seasons with the Astros and one with the Oakland Athletics. Overall he produced a relatively high career earned run average of 5.99. Of the group, Dougherty is the least notable of the players who wore the number 68 for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Wyatt Toregas' journey with the Pirates began when he signed a minor league contract in 2011. Like Dougherty, Toregas had a very brief stint with the Pirates' major league club. He would only get four at-bats with the big league club and did not record a hit. Though his on-field opportunities were limited, Toregas embraced a new role as a coach within the organization. He was hired by the organization in 2012 and would end up coaching until the eventual end of the Neal Huntington regime. He would catch on with the Atlanta Braves' organization after being let go. Toregas spent more time making an impact as a coach rather than a player.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009, Vic Black spent his college years at Texas-Baptist University. Unfortunately, his time within the Pittsburgh Pirates organization saw him deal with multiple arm issues. Despite early setbacks due to injuries, he persevered through the Pirates' farm system, continuing to showcase promise and talent.

In 2013, Black's efforts paid off, as he earned a spot on the Indianapolis Indians roster, the Triple-A affiliate. He was named a Triple-A All-Star during this season as well. His debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates that year saw him pitch in three games, displaying glimpses of his potential with a 4.50 ERA.

However, his time in Pittsburgh was short-lived, as he was traded to the New York Mets later that year. The Pirates traded Dilson Herrera and a player to be named later to the New York Mets for outfielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck. Despite being traded away by the Pirates, Black's journey in baseball continued and he would find himself back with the organization eventually.

Today, he serves as the Minor League Pitching and Throwing Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates, transitioning from player to mentor. Black had a lot of upside as a backend reliever, and he showed that potential at times. However, the arm issues caught up to Black, and he was never able to reach that full potential.

Clay Holmes' journey to the big leagues began when the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him in 2011, bypassing a college baseball commitment at Auburn University. Holmes was given a significant signing bonus of $1.2 million to sign. After signing with the Pirates and enduring the rigors of the minor leagues, Holmes earned a spot on the Pirates' 40-man roster in 2016.

In his debut year, Holmes showcased promise with a solid outing against the Cincinnati Reds. However, his tenure with the Pirates was marked by fluctuations between the majors and minors. Despite setbacks like Tommy John Surgery in 2014, he would pitch in 91 total games for the organization. Ultimately in 2021, he would make 44 appearances for the Pirates during the 2021 season before being traded to the New York Yankees.

At the time, many fans of the Pirates were happy with the trade. The Bucs were able to land two of the Yankees' top 30 prospects for an erratic reliever who just could not figure it out. Coming back in the deal were infielders Hoy Park and Diego Castillo. Both are no longer with the Pirates organization. Meanwhile, Clay Holmes has turned in a 2.50 ERA over the last 2.5 seasons with the Yankees.

Jake Elmore's tenure with the Pittsburgh Pirates was a rather interesting one. Acquired via trade in March 2019, he joined the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The White Sox had signed him as a minor-league free agent the previous offseason, and the Pirates acquired him for cash considerations in a trade just a few months later.

Elmore hit .322 with Indianapolis, which earned him an eventual promotion. When he was promoted, he wore #68. He played in just 20 total games and posted a .213 batting average. He was outrighted off the Pirates roster in October and elected to free agency. He rejoined the Pirates in the offseason, but his time was short-lived, as he was released in June 2020. Obviously, this was a year that hurt many players like Elmore, who were sticking around as Quad-A players essentially. However, when COVID impacted the baseball season, roster decisions had to be made.

Yet Elmore's story continued beyond the Pirates, as he would sign with the Phillies in 2021. In February 2022, he embraced a new role with the Philadelphia Phillies as a hitting coach for their Low-A affiliate. Today, as the Phillies' Hitting Coordinator, Elmore's perseverance and adaptability remain evident, showcasing that success in baseball often stems from embracing change and forging a new path forward.

Brandon Waddell's baseball journey led him to debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates and get to wear #68. Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the fifth round of the 2015 MLB draft, Waddell signed with the team and began his professional career with the West Virginia Black Bears. There were high hopes for Waddell, as he had been a key arm for the Virginia Cavaliers, who won the NCAA title that year.

After years of grinding in the minor leagues, Waddell's efforts paid off when he earned a spot on the Pirates' 40-man roster on Aug. 9, 2020. His major league debut on Aug. 14 against the Cincinnati Reds marked a significant milestone for the former fifth-round selection.

However, Waddell's time with the Pirates was brief, as he was designated for assignment after the 2020 season. Again, he was somewhat of a victim of the roster decisions that were made due to COVID-19. Finding a new opportunity, he joined the Minnesota Twins on Oct. 30, 2020, after being claimed off waivers.

Despite the ups and downs of his major league stints with the Twins, Orioles, and Cardinals, Waddell ventured into the international scene for the 2022 season. The past offseason, he signed with the Doosan Bears in the KBO League. Waddell, like so many other pitchers, looks to reestablish himself overseas and it will be interesting to see if he does make his way back to Major League Baseball.

Cam Vieaux's path to the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates led to him eventually wearing #68 in black and gold. Selected by the Pirates in the sixth round of the 2016 MLB draft, Vieaux signed with the team, embarking on his professional baseball career with a reported $175,000 signing bonus.

Throughout his time in the Pirates' farm system, Vieaux honed his skills and demonstrated his commitment to the game. However, when the 2020 minor league season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vieaux (like many) faced an unexpected turn in his career.

His journey with the Pirates culminated in a notable performance, albeit a challenging one, characterized by an historically bad inning. He would be promoted in July of the 2022 season. Wearing #68, he took the mound and proceeded to give up eight runs, with seven being earned, in just one inning of work.

Most recently Vieaux found himself in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim's organization. He spent the 2023 season with their Triple-A affiliate. While the lefty wore #68 for the Pirates, he will be known more for that inning on that July day.

The most recent Pittsburgh Pirates player to wear #68 played for the team during the 2023 season.

Signing a minor league deal with the Pirates on December 22, 2022, Angel Perdomo began his season with the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians, where he demonstrated his prowess on the mound with a 3.18 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched.

His impressive performance earned him a promotion to the major league roster on June 3, 2023. However, his time in the majors was not without challenges. On July 25, Perdomo found himself at the center of controversy after surrendering a home run and subsequently intentionally hitting the next batter, resulting in his ejection from the game and a three-game suspension.

Despite this setback, Perdomo continued to persevere until he was sidelined by left elbow discomfort on Aug. 20. His season came to an abrupt end when he was transferred to the 60-day injured list, culminating in 30 appearances for the Pirates with a 3.72 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 29.0 innings of work.

Unfortunately, Perdomo's challenges persisted beyond the 2023 season when he underwent Tommy John surgery on Oct. 6, ruling him out for the entirety of the 2024 season. Due to this outcome, the Pirates let Perdomo go by designating him for assignment. He has since joined the Braves organization, where he will rehab for the entirety of the 2024 season.