11:03AM: Stratton’s season is officially over, as the Pirates placed him on the 60-day injured list.
7:38AM: Pirates right-hander Hunter Stratton suffered a left knee patella tendon rupture during the fourth inning of the Bucs’ 10-2 loss to the Reds on Saturday. Stratton had just entered the game in relief of Jake Woodford, and his fourth pitch of the appearance was a wild pitch that evaded catcher Joey Bart. As Jonathan India raced home to score from third base, Bart’s toss to Stratton (covering home plate) bounced off Stratton’s glove and rolled to the backstop. While in pursuit of the loose ball, Stratton stumbled and jammed his left leg into the stone wall behind the plate.
Stratton was down for several minutes in the aftermath of the play, and had to leave the field on a cart. Post-game, manager Derek Shelton told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Justin Guerriero and other reporters that Stratton was receiving an MRI and that the situation “did not look good. I would say this is going to be significant time [out].”
Official word on Stratton’s status should come today when he is inevitably placed on the injured list, but between the nature of the knee injury and the late date on the baseball calendar, it would certainly seem like Stratton’s 2024 season is over. The question now is how much time the 27-year-old will need to recover, and how much of his 2025 campaign could be impacted.
A 16th-round selection for the Pirates in the 2017 draft, Stratton didn’t make his MLB debut until 2023, when he had a 2.25 ERA over 12 innings as a September call-up. Pittsburgh non-tendered Stratton following the season but then re-signed him to a new minor league contract, and he was part of the club’s Opening Day roster this year. The righty’s first full Major League season has included a six-week stint on the IL due to a triceps strain, and now this flukish patella tendon rupture that will bring his year to a close.
When healthy, Stratton has pitched respectably well, posting a 3.58 ERA over 37 2/3 relief innings. While his strikeout rate is a modest 20.9%, Stratton has done an excellent job of inducing soft contact, and he has avoided free passes to the tune of a 4.4% walk rate. The latter stat is the most significant part of Stratton’s development into a big leaguer, as he had a 12.98% walk rate across his 392 career innings in the Pirates’ farm system.
That looked ugly. I had a feeling it was a pretty significant knee injury.
Good luck in your recovery.
It was weird cause he stumbled awkwardly before he even hit that wall as well
I think he tried to stop and the knee went on him.
I happened to put the game on seconds before the injury occurred. It looked real bad.
The limestone wall that Stratton went into is a dangerous spot, especially right behind home plate. They should find a way to fasten cushions to it to prevent injuries like this one from happening again
Regarding the worthless pitcher he had replaced, Woodford should have never been given the opportunity to start that or any other game.
Maybe had this incompetent organization brought up a pitcher from Indy for a spot start, there wouldn’t have been a reason to bring in Stratton
Wow…so an unfortunate injury happens and it’s both the organization and the starting pitchers fault because if Stratton wasn’t in, he wouldn’t have been hurt? Brilliant Colombo.
Dude, Stratton is a pitcher. He’s going to be put in games. Doesn’t matter what inning or when. It was a freak moment
Dude? You’re gone too
I agree with the man3…this clown has no business pitching in the major leagues. Alika Williams has no business being in the majors…best job for this matchstick is to be a shadow puppet.
Enough is enough. Nutjob Nutting is laughing at the faces of pirate fans,while the crossed eyed Nutjob counts his money. Laughing all the way to the bank.
Game was long over by then. That’s what you get for hustling. Rowdy would never got hurt on a play like that.
Rowdy would still be at home plate admiring his hit
Stratton did throw a wild pitch which led to the upcoming debacle that resulted in his injury
Dream- Rowdy throws a nasty sinker to induce double plays though.
A+ move putting him in to limit the damage.
So YOU caused it. Shame, shame.
That is rough to get non tendered after a nice 2023 season.
rough perhaps but with this organization, not surprising
Can’t tender everyone and he wasn’t picked up by anyone so who cares
That is the life for a middle reliever unfortunately. Along with back up middle infielder and 5th outfielder, those are the positions that don’t really make it to arbitration because there are always younger, cheaper options to fill those roles.
Ow! Patellar tendon injuries are painful and often recurring, as I know from old sports injuries. Hope he makes a full recovery.
It’s not as difficult for a baseball player as with other sports, especially a pitcher. Not saying they don’t use their knees, but it’s a far preferable injury placement for them than an elbow or shoulder. When you are talking basketball player or football player, I would think the opposite would be true.
Tell that to Lance Lynn and other overweight pitchers who get knee injuries.
Dr. Google says 6-12 months
That’s unfortunate. Hope he can recover fully
I, like most of us, hate any injury. But the freak injuries hit me hard. Especially when it happens from hustling and playing the game straight and not hamming it up or celebrating.
I hope Hunter recovers quickly. One of the bright spots of the Pirates.
As a side note, I thought it was Bednar who was pitching in the final inning of that game and realized afterward it wasn’t when no additional runs were scored.
Eh it’s a forgotten season for Stratton. He’s never really in during anything outside of mop up duty or lower leverage innings
It looks like the Pirates were unable to leverage the skills of a player.
AG- Stratton has done a good job with the Pirates.He has been a useful pitcher who may not have the best stats to be appreciated by most posters and GM’s but some of us look at his past performance to judge it.
Wow, I found more people to mute from this thread
Yourself?
Rowdy Tellez pitched the 9th inning in last night’s game and didn’t allow a run
Maybe he should have started instead
Really ugly injury that is being reported as a left knee patella tendon rupture this morn. Hope the young man feels better and comes back quickly
I know Shelton found some magic in his reliever game approach last year but where Woodford is concerned, I’m not sure how he keeps getting trotted out there, only to get pounded again. No other options here at all?
I know they’re taking their time with Burrows as he comes back from TJ. I get that Bubba, Harrington and Ashcroft (who’s currently nursing soreness) aren’t far removed from AA and here again, they want to move slowly. But jeez, there have to be other options
Woodford entered yesterday’s game with an era of 6.87 and had a record of 0-5
It’s not surprising that Shelton chose to use him as a starter and expected anything different from his pitching than giving up many runs
As bad as Woodford was clobbered earlier in the season with the White Sox as well as at Charlotte, it is quite surprising that any team would trot him out. It speaks volumes about the Pirates front office.
everything associated with this front office speaks volumes about their character and commitment to a winning team
The very same injury that derailed Dennis Leonard’s great career. Thankfully, sports medicine is now light years better than back in the 1980’s…
Greta reference. I had forgotten about Dennis’s injury. He was a really good starter for many years, and he fought like heck to make it back from that injury but just wasn’t the same.
Leonard was a workhorse in the late 70’s and into the early 80’s. Won 20 games three times (may have won 20 again in ’81 if not for the players strike). He was off to a fantastic start in 1983 when he blew out his left knee while throwing a pitch. Leonard said he felt like his knee had exploded.
Leonard missed the rest of ’83, all of ’84, and most of 1985. He did play all of 1986, but he wasn’t the same. Leonard said his arm felt fine, but it was too much work to prepare his knee for competition and exercise. His quote was something along the lines of, “My body feels like I’m 35, my arms feels like it’s 30, but my left knee feels like it’s 80. I spend more time before and after the game doing physical therapy on my knee than I do working on pitching.” Leonard retired after the 1986 season. All of that daily physical therapy was dragging down his enjoyment of pitching in the big leagues.
That knee injury cost Dennis Leonard probably five seasons of 15-20 wins a year. It’s a shame because he was a solid top of the rotation guy that would have fit in well behind Bret Saberhagen, along with Mark Gubicza and Danny Jackson.
And to top it all off, he had a Top 10 all-time mustache.
Seriously though, I was just a kid and not even a Royals fan but I knew he was a solid pitcher. Lots of innings, kept his team in games.
Pittsburgh fans should be focusing their attention on the QB1 situation. No doubt Justin Fields should start and remain behind center unless he gets injured. Even then, a taped up JF is 100 times better than Russell.
The Steelers’ season will be much like the Pirates’:
Much preseason and early-season hope and hype, followed by mediocrity, disappointment, and ultimate failure.
Strewn along the way with head-scratching FO, personnel, and coaching moves.
IOW, 4th Place in each of their divisions.
At least the Steelers’ fans will travel a lot, giving them lots of hotel and airline perks.
Unlike some sports fans, Yinzers can focus on multiple sports at the same time, Slider
Fields hasn’t proven anything yet. I’m willing to give Russell the benefit of a few starts before I blather about it on the MLB side, at least
Considering the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in 8 years, the real focus should be on Mike Tomlin
At one time and for several years, he had a top rated and future first ballot HOF Quarterback, one of the best running backs in football and a great wide receiver yet Tomlin never won a SB with this trio
His lone championship was a result of the players his predecessor had assembled
And that repeated claim that he’s never had a losing season is meaningless
Why is it meaningless?
He has one of the best overall W/L records ever in the NFL.
“He has one of the best overall W/L records ever in the NFL.”
Maybe, but football players wear uniforms, not overalls.
Lester- Shame on you.This site has mostly intelligent commenters not knuckleheads like you and I who appreciate slapstick humor.
I come here only to serve….
it’s meaningless because of his playoff record and his lack of championships
Having a good record means nothing unless it takes him team to a championship
I am not fooled by his career record or not having a losing season
As you know, I think coaches and managers are overrated, and that includes the minor leagues of pro sports…. at the collegiate level
Most of these guys are average. A few exemplary, many are overmatched. I think Tomlin is an average coach, no feeling one way or the other. Great motivational speaker, for what it’s worth
But show me coaches at any level that consistently get players to go above and beyond. Guys who start with little and make something out of it. Or guys who take over a team full of unmotivated players and excel
Not many of these guys or gals in pro or college ranks. It’s more reflective of who has been brought into their team or program. Even more important than coaching or managing
In the era of big money in pro and unfortunately, now in college athletics, it’s easier to define coaches who are lacking than those who are truly “great”
Broski this is a baseball site go to football rumors to complain about the future HOF coach
An interesting Steelers fact: since 1969 they’ve only had 3 coaches, 2 in the HOF in chuck noll and bill cowher and then tomlin
Tomlin will be hall of fame when he retires.
HOF credentials doesn’t guarantee championships, just ask Barry Bonds
He and Clemens certainly *do* have HOF credentials
It’s time. Or let’s look at the baggage of literally every guy ever inducted.
I was a big Noll fan. He fits in the category of a guy who motivated players and was incredibly prepared in practices and in games
But even his style got stale at the end of his time here. Great coach with guys who bought into what he was doing. And that’s a key element now. Guys who looking for bigger paydays or “college” players who look at the university experience only as an avenue to play pro somewhere and quickly look to transfer…can’t be easy these days
“TheMan:
Rowdy Tellez pitched the 9th inning in last night’s game and didn’t allow a run
Maybe he should have started instead”
Hahaha. Brilliant! Original! Insightful!
They’re rolling with yucks and laffs up and down Mount Washington.
“TheMan 3:
Unlike some sports fans, Yinzers can focus on multiple sports at the same time, Slider”
And some can only focus on themselves and on “proving” everyone else wrong…
it should be a strikeout extravaganza today with Michael A Taylor and Alika Williams in the lineup
The Pirates should seriously consider bringup up Harrington and/or Chandler to give them two or three starts during the remaining games.
It starts their ML clock but if they do not option either over the next month when rosters increase they would not lose an option year.
They would both be needed to be added to the 40 man roster but Woodford and a reliever could easily be removed.
I realize that they have not spent much time in AAA but both of these pitchers are very highly regarded and cameo appearances this year would give insight as to whether or not they could cut it next year.
The Pirates need to trade for a solid young hitter over the winter and these two would give them an excess of good starting pitchers.
That being said I think that both should be untouchable.
Looking at the current 40 man roster I am planning ahead for next year at the end of this year.
There is always one for the Pirates.
Pitchers 60 day IL
Release but invite Borucki and Jefferies to ST
Release Gonzalez
Bring back Moreta,Oviedo,and Stratton
Pitchers
Resign Chapman
Release Feigl Woodford,Heller,but give them all ST invites
Position players
Let free agents Tellez,Grandal,and Taylor go
Release Joe and either Palacios or McKinney
Wait for ST to sign McCutcheon in case a bona fide DH is obtained
DeLay is on cusp
Bring Endy back as a catcher
DFA Cheng
These moves open up positions for young players and needed new players through trades and free agency
I did something like this on another thread. No one besides TheMan took the bait
The problem your list has—which is a lot like mine—is that even though “the rebuild is over,” cough, pardon me, there are so many question marks here that it’s hard to construct a roster
Two givens we can go with:
1) Nutting is going to spend nothing. They could bring in two big sticks as an outfielder and 1st baseman that would change everything. They won’t
2) Your starting pitching will keep you in 80% of the games. You have the big 3. You need to quickly decide firmly who your other 2-3 are. Oviedo. Burrows. Bubba. Harrington. Ashcraft
They need to figure it out quickly in spring.
Bart created a pleasant problem. Whether it’s Endy or Davis, give them some reps at 1st
You have some semblance of a good situation at 2nd if Nick continues to progress and with IKF. But let’s add Termarr to the mix this spring. Why not?
It’s clear this team will not move Cruz anytime soon. Someone has to be able to teach him how to play SS and the need to conduct himself as a pro. Maybe he can inspire Hayes, too
Reynolds is a given. And Cutch? Why not?
Thst leaves a lot of deadwood here in Triolo, Bae, Suwinski, Taylor, Grandal, Delay, Tellez and Joe. DFA or package with whichever pitcher(s) doesn’t fit here and with farmhands that are jammed up
I still think having two closers is a luxury no .500 team can have at more than $10m a year. But you were clairvoyant in describing the need for Chapman. And given Bednar’s troubles that’s still a need
Middle relievers—I’m guessing Ortiz is a start.
I haven’t mentioned the two young studs on the farm who are discussed here in terms of being called up. Admittedly don’t know enough about them
Senor- We usually agree on most things.
I think that I sensed the reason for having Chapman was multifold other than him being a potential HOFer.
(1)Bednar was not a given even though he desrved to be an all star for two straight seasons.I did not see this drop off though.
(2)Only in the last 10-15 years have almost all pitchers become susceptible to serious arm injuries
(3)I think BC was actually trying to win and had not spent the money on any of the numerous overpaid starters
(4)BC knew that his pitching would be much better and his hitting would be much worse thus creating a lot of very close games
(5) the fact that relief pitchers can only pitch in two straight games
It is not like the old days when we epwere young men
You go into more detail on the specifics and my posts are generally long enough.
Third line should read-multifold other than him being a potential HOFer.
With Bart and probably Davis as catchers, I would play Endy at first base:. He’s played there before in the minors and heaven knows this team needs a regular first baseman instead of a revolving over the hill free agent type
Why release Gonzalez? I would rather release Williams and try to trade Hayes, make IKF the regular third baseman
Joe, Taylor, Tellez, not resigned
Release McKinney, Palacios and Grandal
Marco Gonzalez the pitcher was not a bad pitcher in his day but he gets hurt too much now.
Pitchers in their early 30’s often become fragile along with outfielders.
Not sure whether Nick Gonzalez can play shortstop but he is a fine fielder and hopefully gets back to becoming a good hitter too.
Paul- Endy will not hit enough to play first base.Hopefully this injury will not adversely affect his catching.
Davis should be in right field.
Cruz should be at first.
Trolls who troll the Internet have a sickness. Trolling on sites like mlb trade rumors, is like wiping with 1 ply toilet paper and your finger breaks through ad you are wiping…and you like the feeling
I guarantee no Gonzalez will be released
The caveat is if one of the studs has the spring Jones had, then Marco can go.
I think that he has a very big option price and they do not need him anyway.
So you think Marco will be resigned or is this just a play on words inasmuch as the Pirates will decline his option and he will become a free agent?
No one named Gonzalez on the 40 man. Marco contract will just expire and he will become a free agent.
One more thing
Slider with cheese do something positive with your life, like pre paying for your cremation…oh wait crap doesn’t burn
Yes I have a problem with crazy people like trolls and small hands cult, who have nothing better to do but to be STUPID
This game is probably over this inning, mostly because the Pirates again failed to get hits with runners in scoring position but hey, Shelton and Cherington like Andy Haines and the team’s bottom in the league in average and runs scored and second in the league in strikeouts
Typical managerial move by the MORON in charge…why can’t he leave a starting pitcher in the game. NOOOO. The moron uses a once again overworked bullpen..this clown single handily ruined a once promising season…. Nutjob time to do something positive for once in your life.
I hate defending Shelton but Ortiz had already thrown 91 pitches, that’s actually around his limit but after Nichols he should have brought in Chapman instead of Beeks who did pitch yesterday and Chapman didn’t
One more win and it’s guaranteed that they won’t lose 100 games this season
Hard to believe that this is even remotely a possibility after 4 years of this management