Pittsburgh Pirates: Good Names to Remember for Immaculate Grid

Here are some good former Pirates to remember for Immaculate Grid
Pittsburgh Pirates v New York Mets
Pittsburgh Pirates v New York Mets / Alex Trautwig/GettyImages
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Jose Veras

Jose Veras was a relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011. During his one season in Pittsburgh, Veras pitched to a 3.80 ERA, 3.50 FIP, and 1.24 WHIP in 71 innings. Veras struck out over a quarter of the opponents he faced this season with a 25.9% strikeout rate while holding a quality 0.80 HR/9. Though he also handed out a walk to 11.2% of the opponents he faced.

Veras’ career lasted nine seasons. Across those nine seasons, Veras owned a 3.91 ERA, 4.13 FIP, and 1.32 WHIP over 423 frames. Veras always had a healthy strikeout rate and finished his career at 24%. He also averaged about one home run allowed every nine innings. Walks were an issue for Veras, as he dished out a free pass 12.1% of the time.

Veras is a good name to remember because of the amount of teams he played for, and the few he played consecutive seasons with. The only team Veras stayed with for two straight years was the New York Yankees from 2006 through 2008. After that, Veras became a journeyman relief pitcher.

The righty reliever had a short stint in Cleveland before being moved to the Miami Marlins in 2010. ‘11 marked the lone season he wore black and gold. Following 2011, Veras opened the 2012 season for the division rival Milwaukee Brewers. The next year, Veras was the Houston Astros’ closing pitcher before they shipped him off to the Detroit Tigers. Veras was only a rental, who became a free agent at the end of 2013. Veras’ last season was in 2014, where he appeared in 12 contests for the Cubs before latching back on with the Houston Astros for a short stint.

The Yankees ended up being the only team Veras pitched more than 100 innings for. The Pirates, Astros, and Brewers are the only other ones he pitched at least 50 frames for. Because of how much Veras bounced around, and the fact he was never a big name closing pitcher, only racking up five or more saves in just one season, and mostly serving as a middle relief or set-up man, the veteran reliever should have a fairly low rarity score.