Pirates transfer struggling pitcher Roansy Contreras to Florida Complex League

The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred the option of struggling right-handed pitcher Roansy Contreras from Triple-A Indianapolis to their Florida Complex League team.

After going 5-5 with a 3.79 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in 21 games, including 18 starts, last season, the 23-year-old Contreras entered the season expected to be one of the Pirates’ top starting pitchers.

Instead, he was demoted to Indianapolis on July 6 with a 3-7 record, 6.59 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 68 1/3 innings over 19 appearances this season, including 11 starts. Contreras got off to a solid start, going 3-1 with a 3.58 ERA in April. Since then, he has lost six decisions and allowed opponents to hit at a .303/.378/.564 slash line with 11 home runs.

There have been concerns with the velocity of his fastball, which has been hit at a .381 clip. It dipped from an average of 95.6 mph last year to 94.3 mph this season, going as low at 91.7 mph in his final appearance, when Contreras gave up a pair of home runs and blew a two-run lead against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Pirates moved Contreras to the bullpen in mid-June but he had a 9.75 ERA in seven relief appearances before being optioned. The move to the FCL is expected to give Contreras time to work with the player development, strength and delivery groups at Pirate City in Bradenton.