The Pittsburgh Pirates have signed left-handed relief pitcher Justin Bruihl to a major league deal. The 26-year-old will give the Bucs a second lefty out of the bullpen to accompany Aroldis Chapman. Briuhl had just been released by the Cincinnati Reds, who had him under a minor league contract. Bruihl was 4-0 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.114 WHIP while striking out 24 batters in 23 1/3 innings. Somehow, this was deemed not good enough for the Reds, who sit in last place in the National League Central Division and have a left-handed reliever in Justin Wilson who sports a 6.75 ERA. Perhaps Briuhl exercised an opt-out clause that was previously unknown.
LHP Justin Bruihl has been added to the Pirates 26-man roster as a Major League free agent. The Pirates will make a corresponding move this afternoon.
— Alex Stumpf (@AlexJStumpf) June 6, 2024
Pirates Sign Pitcher Bruihl
Bruihl has three years of major league experience. Pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado Rockies, he posted an ERA of 4.22 to go with a 1.237 WHIP and one save. However, besides the fact that he’s a left-hander, there are a few other reasons why Bruihl was attractive to the Pirates. He can’t be a free agent until 2029. In Louisville, he produced ground balls at a 53.4 percent rate.
The need for a second lefty out of the pen became evident on Wednesday night. Chapman had been used. A crucial situation arose in the eighth inning with dangerous lefty Shohei Ohtani at bat. Right-hander Colin Holderman was summoned from the pen. Holderman got the job done after Ohtani forced the Pirates’ partisans to hold their collective breaths when he flew out to deep right.
To make room for Bruihl on the 26-man roster, Quinn Priester has been placed on the 15-day injured list with a right lat muscle injury. To make room on the 40-man roster, Ryan Borucki has been transferred to the 60-day IL.
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