Pirates give 1B/OF Miguel Andujar another shot in big leagues

For the second time this season and the first in over three months, Miguel Andujar will get a chance to prove he belongs at the major-league level.

In a series of roster moves announced Friday, the 28-year-old outfielder/first baseman’s contract was selected from Triple-A Indianapolis. He joins the Pirates for the first time since May 19.

Andujar has been on a tear this season at Triple-A, compiling a .338 batting average through 103 games.

He’s hit 16 home runs with 86 RBIs during his time with the Indians, batting as high as .380 in July and .362 in June.

However, a theme of Andjuar’s professional career – during and before his time with the Pirates – has been success in the minors failing to translate in the big leagues.

A .285 hitter over 789 career minor league games, Andujar hasn’t quite been able to replicate his one solid MLB campaign, which came in 2018 with the Yankees, when he batted .297 with 27 home runs and 92 RBIs.

Related

• Andrew McCutchen sees future in CF for Pirates rookie Ji-Hwan Bae
• 'We got to see Jack smile': Pirates slugger Jack Suwinski shows pop with 1st homer in 5 weeks
• AT&T SportsNet changing ownership 'doesn't look great' for Pirates

Since then, Andujar had bounced between the Yankees and their farm system before being designated for assignment in September of 2022.

Shortly thereafter, the Pirates scooped him off of waivers, and over nine end-of-season games, he proceeded to hit .250 with two doubles, a triple and nine RBIs.

Andujar began the 2023 season with Indianapolis and was called up to the Pirates at the end of April.

He got off to a solid start, going a combined 4 for 7 with a pair of homers and six RBIs in the Pirates’ April 29 doubleheader against Washington.

But from there, his production tailed off considerably, as he mustered just a .043 batting average (1 for 23) over 10 games in May, leading to his reassignment to the Indians.

In addition to Andujar, the Pirates added right-handed pitcher Max Kranick to the 40-man roster.

Kranick was reinstated from the 60-day injured list (Tommy John surgery) and ended his rehabilitation assignment. He is now active with the Indians.

To make room for Andujar and Kranick, right-hander Yohan Ramirez and outfielder Cal Mitchell were designated for assignment.

Ramirez was 1-0 with a 3.67 ERA over 26 appearances and 34 ⅓ innings pitched this season.

The 24-year-old Mitchell, after playing in 69 games last year as a rookie, appeared in just two this season, failing to record a hit in four at-bats.

He had been hitting .264 through 74 games with Indianapolis to date.

The final roster move made by the Pirates Friday was ending the rehabilitation assignment of righty reliever Carmen Mlodzinski and reinstating him from the 15-day injured list (right elbow soreness).

Mlodzinski, 24, is 2-3 with a 2.28 ERA this year.