The Pirates announced several September call-ups today, designating lefty Buddy Boshers to create roster space. Pittsburgh selected the contract of well-regarded middle-infield prospect Kevin Kramer along with that of journeyman catcher Ryan Lavarnway.
Also heading up to the majors are a series of players who already possessed 40-man roster spots. Righties Tanner Anderson, Michael Feliz, and Clay Holmes will all join the organization for the stretch run, as will outfielder Jordan Luplow.
Kramer will join Kevin Newman, another talented young infielder seen as part of the future, on the MLB roster. Chosen in the second round of the 2015 draft, Kramer is viewed as a solid all-around player. Certainly, he has impressed in the upper minors in the past two seasons, turning in identical 141 wRC+ figures in an injury-shortened 2017 at Double-A and in a full campaign this year at Triple-A.
In his 527 plate appearances with Indianapolis in 2018, Kramer owns a .311/.365/.492 slash with 15 home runs and 13 steals. He has spent some time at shortstop in the minors, but the bulk of his innings of come at second base and that’s where he’s expected to play in the big leagues.
As for Boshers, the 30-year-old southpaw has seen time in three MLB seasons but didn’t make it up in 2018. He has worked to a 3.32 ERA with 9.8 K/9 and 2.8 BB/9 in his 57 frames at Triple-A, with time spent at both the Bucs’ and Astros’ top affiliates.
The Seinfeld duo of Kramer and Newman reunited
The question is whether or not Kramer will have to ride the pine for a few games like Newman. If Huntington and Co. is sincere about getting ready for’19, they should get Kramer in the lineup ASAP.
They should but as hot as Frazier is do you sit him or sit Dickerson and stick him in LF? He’s reverting to his old chasing habits lately.
Yes, Frazier need to stay in the lineup and playing LF. The Pirates need to find out if he has a role in their plans for 2019.
I think Marte should sit, let Frazier play CF the rest of the season and let all the young middle infielders play
But Marte is apart of 2019 so why sit him?
They need to use September to help to find out what they have.Sit Dickerson as he is a given and for some reason goes downhill the second half of the season.Let Frazier play left field.I would sit Bell and let Osuna play for at least two weeks straight,Why did they bring up Feliz- he should have been released instead of Boshers.Pitch Anderson and find out if he deserves a roster space.I do not see Holmes making the club out of spring training.Next year will be make or break for Luplow.Play Kramer,he may be another Neil Walker who was a pretty good player for the Pirates when he was not battling back issues.
Kramers bat may one day be close to Neil Walker but his defense is far and above what Walker provided. What is with Dickerson anyway? He’s best as a 120 game or so player…seems to wear down.
Some of Dickerson’s problem may be mental as maybe some guys can only concentrate for so many months.It certainly takes a lot of concentration to be a good major league player.I think that some guys can hit better early in the year and others later in the year when it is hotter.I wonder whether this type of cyclical performance is tracked as closely as everything else is these days.
re Feliz, After the horrendous opener when every one of the pitchers had an ugly day, Feliz pitched very well out of the pen till the end of May. He got ugly after that. He has some promise if they can fix what went wrong. Possible injury? Think he spent time on the DL. Young enough and enough talent to hold oh to him for a while
He also said that he had ditched a pitch a few years ago and was thinking about bringing it back.I thought that he had a chance when they got him from the Astros until I saw his record with them over the last several years.I do not think that there is an injury involved,but I do agree with what you said.It may be wise to keep him IF they have enough roster room until the end of 2019 ST but I would not waste a space if they need it.
Pirates also promoted Pablo Reyes who is starting at 3rd base tonight.
Max Moroff should be given a call up and some playing time.
Moroff is more of a given and he would take away from the young infielders who need to play.I do not think that they see him as a starter,and he only hit 0.230 in AAA this year.He and Osuna need to step it up if they get a chance as they have both had two and there are only so many chances.
At least Osuna has raked in the minors unlike Moroff. Frazier is Moroff but with a much better bat. Moroff will not out play Frazier so no need for Moroff anymore.
I would not be so hasty with Moroff.I agree about the hitting versus Frazier but he is a good infielder and can play shortstop decently.Frazier must still prove himself as improving at second base and that he can maintain his hitting as he has shown to be streaky.Moroff may yet prove to be a capable ML infield backup which is an important position.
Clay Holmes has returned!!!!!
They should DFA HOLMES!
Why? Has Pitched well in the minors. He is their #17 prospect. If he settles down and does what he has done in the minors, he can be a valuable piece for them, even if it is trade bait.
I agree that they should keep Holmes but I think that they have a decent idea as to what he can do and in any event he is not going to make the team next Spring so find out about some of the others now.He had one good start against the Brewers and I think that he can be a decent ML backup plan for a year or two for injuries to the starting pitchers.