The Pittsburgh Pirates have reinstated Quinn Priester to the active roster and sent Edward Olivares to Triple-A Indianapolis. The moves were announced before Tuesday night’s game in Milwaukee against the Brewers. With Bailey Falter recently going on the injured list and Joshua Palacios joining the team, the Pirates eventually needed to add a starting pitcher and shed themselves of an outfielder.
We have made the following roster moves:
• Ended the rehab assignment of RHP Quinn Priester and activated him from the 15-day injured list
• OF Edward Olivares has been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis
• LHP Justin Bruihl, who was designated for assignment on July 7, has…
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 9, 2024
Josh Fleming was named as the starter for the Tuesday game. It’s possible that he’ll be used as an “opener” with Priester coming in to take the bulk of the innings. Priester can then take Falter’s spot in the rotation until the left-hander is healthy.
Pirates Reinstate Priester from IL, Send Down Olivares
In six starts with the Pirates in 2024, Priester is 0-5 with a 4.83 ERA and 1.547 WHIP. He was better in Indy, where he was 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 1.069 WHIP. He was there on a rehab assignment, as is veteran lefty Marco Gonzales. However, Gonzales needs a longer rehab due to the length of time he’s been out. Thus, the right-hander Priester, a first-round pick in the 2019 June Amateur Draft, was the logical choice to get the call. It also confirms that recent addition Brent Honeywell Jr. will be used out of the bullpen.
The 28-year-old Olivares delivered some big hits early in the season but has struggled lately. He’s 0-for-9 in his last four games and has seen his slash line drop to .224/.291/.333. It means that the bundle of enthusiasm otherwise known as Palacios is in Pittsburgh to stay. In his five games since returning to the Pirates, he’s been on base in more than half of his plate appearances. Palacios capped off Monday’s 8-2 win over the New York Mets with a towering home run into the right-field stands.
It also means a reprieve, for now, for the struggling Michael A. Taylor. Taylor has an edge over Olivares in that he’s a better defensive outfielder and can play center field. If he were producing, Olivares could have been kept on as a platoon partner with the left-handed-hitting Palacios. However, Palacios stands in the box well against lefties and may be given some extended run against all pitching to spark a putrid offense.
The Pirates also announced that left-handed reliever Justin Bruihl has accepted his outright assignment to Indianapolis.
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