Pirates sign Yoshi Tsutsugo, designate John Nogowski, Ka'ai Tom for assignment

The Pittsburgh Pirates officially signed Yoshi Tsutsugo to a major league deal and made the first baseman/outfielder active for Monday’s game at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

To make room on the roster for Tsutsugo, the Pirates on Monday designated outfielder Ka’ai Tom and first baseman John Nogowski for assignment.

Tsutsugo batted .197/.314/.395 with eight home runs last season for the Tampa Bay Rays but was traded to the Dodgers in mid-May and batted .120 before being optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers released Tsutsugo so he could sign elsewhere. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Tsutsugo will see playing time at first base, left field and possibly right field.

Tom was first returned from his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis and reinstated from the 10-day injured list. A Rule 5 Draft pick who was claimed off waivers in April from the Oakland A’s, the 27-year-old Tom batted .152/.308/.261 with two doubles, a triple, two homers and 11 RBIs in 39 games with the Pirates. He spent two stints on the injured list, first with a left wrist contusion that sidelined him for 10 days and then a low back strain that caused him to be out since July 3.

Nogowski was acquired in a trade from St. Louis on July 5 for cash considerations when first baseman Colin Moran went on the injured list with a fractured left wrist. Nogowski, 28, slashed .261/.325/.351 with seven doubles, one home run and 14 RBIs in 33 games with the Pirates. Nogowski made a strong first impression: In his first 12 games with the Pirates, Nogowski batted .438 (21 for 48); over his final 21, he batted .127 (8 for 63).

“I think with the fact that we got Colin back and he’s been playing at first and the fact of signing Yoshi there, it just came down to lack of at bats there,” Shelton said. “When you make moves and you make roster moves, he ended up unfortunately being the casualty.”