The Pittsburgh Pirates took steps toward finalizing their Opening Day roster by making a handful of roster moves Saturday, including one that involves a former No. 1 overall pick.
The Pirates selected right-handed reliever Hunter Stratton to their major league roster, designated outfielder Joshua Palacios for assignment and optioned catcher Henry Davis and infielders/outfielders Billy Cook and Nick Yorke to Triple-A Indianapolis, per the team’s transactions page.
Sending Davis, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft, to the minors to start the season signals that Endy Rodriguez appears to have won the backup catcher job to Joey Bart after missing last season following Tommy John surgery on his right (throwing) elbow.
Stratton, 28, made a successful spring training debut Saturday, recording two strikeouts in a clean eighth inning in a 4-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla. It was Stratton’s first game since suffering a ruptured patella tendon in his left knee against the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 24.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Stratton was 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 33 strikeouts against seven walks in 37 2/3 innings over 36 appearances last season. He has made 44 appearances for the Pirates in two seasons.
Palacios, who had 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 91 games in 2023, was in competition for the fourth outfielder spot but was limited to nine Grapefruit League games by a sore left knee. He batted .211 (4 for 19) with five strikeouts and no walks this spring.
The moves also eliminate a pair of candidates at first base.
The 22-year-old Yorke is a former first-round pick by the Boston Red Sox who was acquired last July and made his major league debut last September. Ranked the Pirates’ No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, he split time between first and second base this spring but batted .206 (7 for 34) with two doubles and two RBIs in 14 games.
Cook, 26, was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles last July and also made his debut last September. He batted .160 (4 for 25) but drew almost as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (nine) for a .364 on-base percentage and had one homer and one RBI in 15 games.
