Pittsburgh Pirates Re-Assign Two More to Minor League Camp & More

The Pittsburgh Pirates re-assigned two more players to minor league camp on Sunday as they took another step toward finalizing their Opening Day roster

As Opening Day continues to drawer closer and closer the Pittsburgh Pirates are now closer to finalizing the 26-man roster they will take north. Sunday afternoon the team took two more steps toward finalizing this roster by re-assigning infielder/outfielder Miguel Andújar and left-handed reliever Angel Perdomo to minor league camp.

The Andújar move comes as no surprise. He was taken off the 40-man roster earlier in the offseason and struggled in Grapefruit League play. Andújar hit for a .195/.244/.368 slash line to go with eight strikeouts and just three walks in 45 Grapefruit League plate appearances.

Even though he struggled this spring, Perdomo being re-assigned did come as a bit of a surprise. The reason it comes as a bit of a surprise is now the only left-handed pitcher who will be in the team's Opening Day bullpen will be Rule 5 Draft addition Jose Hernandez, who has yet to pitch above the Double-A level.

Perdomo posted a 7.45 ERA to go with five walks, two home runs allowed, and 13 strikeouts in 9.2 innings pitched in Grapefruit League action. Had Perdomo pitched better this spring, due to Jarlín García's injury, it's very possible he would have made the team's Opening Day roster.

The Pittsburgh Pirates now have 36 players remaining in major league camp. This 36 includes García and Robert Stephenson, both of whom are set to begin the season on the injured list. The final spot or two in the bullpen, final spot on the bench, and backup catcher remain unsettled entering the week of Opening Day.

Connor Joe exits game after being hit in the hand

During Sunday afternoon's loss against the Atlanta Braves first baseman/outfielder Connor Joe exited the game after being hit in the left hand with a pitch. At the time it looked and sounded ugly, but Joe may have dodged a bullet.

After the game the Pirates said he was pulled for precautionary reasons. The team stated that Joe is day-to-day. The Pirates acquired Joe, who the team originally drafted in 2014, from the Colorado Rockies for minor league pitcher Nick Garcia earlier this offseason.

Joe entered Sunday hitting .256/.310/.436 in 42 PAs this spring to go with a 2:12 BB:K ratio. If healthy, Joe is expected to play an important platoon role for the Pirates and be in the lineup agaisnt left-handed pitchign this season. Hopefully, Joe will be ok and ready to go for Thursday's regular season opener in Cincinnati.