Rafael Flores, the player acquired in the David Bednar trade, has joined the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Pirates selected the contract of the 24-year-old catcher/first baseman from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, putting Flores in position to make his major-league debut.
Ranked the Pirates’ No. 8 prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 9 by Baseball America, Flores batted .280 with 27 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs and 88 RBIs in 133 games between Double-A Somerset and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Indianapolis this season. He was part of the return package from the New York Yankees in exchange for Bednar, a two-time All-Star closer who was dealt at the trade deadline in late July.
Flores batted .281 with four doubles, a triple, six homers and 28 RBIs in 36 games at Indianapolis.
To make room on the active roster, the Pirates optioned infielder Liover Peguero to Indianapolis.
