https://triblive.com/sports/pirates-recall-2b-nick-gonzales-option-inf-alika-williams-to-triple-a-indianapolis/
Pirates recall 2B Nick Gonzales, option INF Alika Williams to Triple-A Indianapolis
While the attention was on the arrival of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes, it was another former first-round pick that was added to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ active roster.
The Pirates recalled Nick Gonzales from Triple-A Indianapolis, and manager Derek Shelton said the hot-hitting second baseman would be in the starting lineup Friday night against the Chicago Cubs.
To make room on the 26-man roster, the Pirates optioned utility infielder Alika Williams to Indianapolis. Williams was batting .239/.271/.348 with a double, two triples and two RBIs in 15 games, making nine starts at second base and five at shortstop.
Gonzales, selected seventh overall by the Pirates in 2020, was batting .358/.431/.608 with a team-best 14 doubles and four home runs, as well as 19 RBIs, in 35 games for Indianapolis.
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound infielder made his MLB debut last June 23, batting .209 (24 for 115) with eight doubles, a triple, two homers and 13 RBIs but had 36 strikeouts against six walks in 35 games.
The 21-year-old Skenes, a right-hander who is considered baseball’s top pitching prospect, is expected to make the most anticipated major league debut by a starting pitcher since Stephen Strasburg in 2010 when the Pirates play the Chicago Cubs at 4:05 p.m. Saturday at PNC Park. His addition will require moves to the 40-man and active rosters.
The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Skenes posted a 0.99 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 27 1/3 innings with 45 strikeouts and eight walks over seven starts at Indianapolis. After leading LSU to the College World Series championship, he signed for a draft-record $9.2 million bonus and made 12 starts in the minors, including five across three levels last summer.
Skenes has a five-pitch repertoire that features a four-seam fastball that regularly tops 100 mph, a hard-breaking slider and a splinker – a splitter-sinker hybrid — along with a changeup and curveball. He topped triple digits nine times in his final start at Indianapolis on Sunday, when he also allowed the first home run of his professional career.
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