The Pittsburgh Pirates made a pair of roster moves Sunday afternoon, optioning outfielder Cal Mitchell to Triple-A Indianapolis and reassigning infielder Nick Gonzales to minor league camp.
Mitchell, 24, finished the season with the Pirates last year, slashing .226/.286/.349 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 17 RBIs in 69 games as a rookie. He was fighting for a spot on the Opening Day roster in a crowded outfield but struggled in the field and at the plate.
Mitchell batted .219 (7 for 32) with one double, three RBIs and five runs scored in 15 Grapefruit League games, with 11 strikeouts and one walk. He played right field and left field and committed two errors.
Gonzales, 23, the Pirates’ first-round pick in 2020 (No. 7 overall), had a strong spring training but was expected to start the season in the minors. He slashed .391/.440/.522 with one home run, two RBIs and four runs scored in 17 Grapefruit League games, with five strikeouts and two walks. Gonzales played 13 games at second base, three at third base and two at shortstop without committing an error.
The Pirates now have 48 players in major league camp (24 pitchers, 24 position players).
