The Pittsburgh Pirates made a flurry of roster moves before Thursday evening’s game in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels. Struggling outfielder Jack Suwinski has been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Pitcher Mike Burrows and outfielder Matt Gorski have been recalled from Indianapolis. In other moves, pitcher Justin Lawrence was placed on the 15-day injured list with elbow inflammation, while pitcher Tim Mayza was moved from the 15-day IL to the 60-day IL. The moves are official per the Pirates Transactions page.
Source: LHP Tim Mayza is headed to the 60-day IL. This opens up a 40-man spot for OF Matt Gorski, who is with the Pirates in Anaheim.
RHP Mike Burrows, already on the 40-man, is also in Anaheim. He takes OF Jack Suwinski’s place on the active roster.
— Colin Beazley (@colin_beazley) April 24, 2025
Pirates Demote Suwinski Among Roster Moves
Suwinski, who led the Pirates with 26 home runs in 2023, has struggled mightily since last season. He seemed a long shot to break camp with the Pirates during spring training. However, in the spring games, he was 15-for-40 with a home run, and although he struck out 10 times, he demonstrated a good two-strike approach and ability to hit to all fields. Unfortunately, these newfound talents didn’t carry over to the regular season. Without regular playing time, he went 5-for-39 and struck out an astonishing 19 times in 45 plate appearances. The Pirates are committed to Tommy Pham, Oneil Cruz, and Bryan Reynolds in the outfield. A demotion to Triple-A where the left-handed-hitting slugger can get regular at-bats was in the cards for a while.
Roster Moves Include Addition of Two Prospects
The right-handed-hitting Gorski is no longer a ranked prospect, but his performances in spring training with the Pirates and later at Triple-A had become hard to ignore, especially as others struggled. In spring training, he was 9-for-25 while leading the Pirates with four home runs and 13 RBI. In Triple-A, he was 21-for-70 with three homers and 14 RBI. A late bloomer at 27, he plays all three outfield positions and first base, and is a good defender. He’s in Thursday’s starting lineup, playing first base and hitting seventh against Angels veteran left-hander Tyler Anderson, a former Pirate.
Burrows, 25, a right-handed pitcher, is the Pirates’ No. 15 prospect. He had a brief taste of the major leagues last season, pitching one game and surrendering two runs (one earned) in 3 1/3 innings. He’s started four games for Indy this season and has given up seven earned runs in 14 2/3 innings. Those numbers don’t scream promotion, but his career minor league record shows an impressive 10 strikeouts per nine innings. The Pirates apparently see his early performance as an anomaly. How Burrows will be used is unknown. Carmen Mlodzinski and his 7.41 ERA are scheduled to start Thursday night’s game against the Angels. Perhaps this is the former reliever’s last opportunity to show he belongs in the rotation.
Tough Breaks for Pitchers
Lawrence, a right-handed reliever picked up on waivers from the Colorado Rockies, has been splendid since leaving the pitcher-hostile confines of Coors Field. He was pitching the best baseball of his career, giving up just one run in 11 1/3 innings and striking out 15. The Pirates were using him in high-leverage situations. His loss will be difficult to overcome, which may necessitate a move of Mlodzinski to the bullpen anyway.
The move of Mayza to the 60-day IL comes as no surprise. The veteran left-handed reliever was placed on the 15-day IL on Saturday with a lat strain and a teres major injury. The Pirates decided to shut him down for six weeks, so a transfer to the 60-day IL was a logical move.
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