Pirates Send Bullpen Arm Down to Minors
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates made a change to their bullpen, as they sent down a relief pitcher they recently called up.
The Pirates optioned right-handed relief pitcher Cam Sanders to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 14, according to his transactions log. José Negron of DK Pittsburgh Sports reported that the Pirates are calling up left-handed relief pitcher Evan Sisk in place of Sanders.
Sanders joined the Pirates on Aug. 5, as they selected his contract, optioning right-handed starting pitcher Johan Oviedo to Indianapolis, making room on the 26-man MLB roster. They also designated left-handed relief pitcher Génesis Cabrera for assignment, the day prior, which gave Sanders a spot on the 40-man roster.
He made his MLB debut that same day, throwing two scoreless innings, allowing a hit and posting two strikeouts against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park in the 8-1 defeat.
Sanders then threw a scoreless inning in back-to-back appearances vs. the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on Aug. 7 and Aug. 9, giving up one hit and striking out a batter.
He struggled massively in his third outing vs. the Reds in the series finale on Aug. 10. He gave up a three-run home run and then loaded the bases in the top of the ninth inning. Two more runs came across when fellow right-handed relief pitcher Isaac Mattson came in for him, as he allowed five earned runs in the 14-8 defeat.
Sanders made his last appearance with the Pirates in the series finale vs. the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Filed on Aug. 13.
He faced a bases-loaded situation in the bottom of the seventh inning and forced left fielder Isaac Collins to fly out, but walked catcher Wilson Contreras and then gave up a single to designated hitter Christian Yelich, which brought home three runs for the Brewers in the 12-5 defeat, securing a series sweep defeat for the Pirates.
Sanders finished his first stint with the Pirates with five earned runs allowed over five innings pitched and five appearances for a 9.00 ERA, with four strikeouts to four walks.
He signed with the Pirates in the offseason and started out with Double-A Altoona, where he had a 2-0 record in 18 appearances, a 1.90 ERA over 23.2 innings pitched, nine saves in 10 opportunities, 26 strikeouts to 13 walks, a .154 opposing batting average and a 1.06 WHIP.
The Pirates then assigned Sanders to Indianapolis on June 10, where he had a 2-1 record over 15 outings, six holds, two saves in two opportunities, a 1.93 ERA over 18.2 innings pitched, 25 strikeouts to seven walks, a .145 opposing batting average and a 0.86 WHIP.
Pittsburgh now has a bullpen consisting of six right-handed pitchers, featuring Braxton Ashcraft, Mattson, Carmen Mlodzinski, Kyle Nicolas, Dennis Santana and Chase Shugart, plus two left-handed pitchers in Ryan Borucki and Sisk.
Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.