The Pittsburgh Pirates have reinstated relief pitchers Colin Holderman and Ryan Borucki from the injured list to the active roster. No corresponding move was necessary as the major league rosters expanded to 28 on September 1. On Friday, the Pirates added pitcher Ben Heller to the IL to make room for Andrew McCutchen. Thus, these latest moves give the Pirates 14 pitchers, putting them right at the September limit on the number of pitchers a team may carry.
We have ended the rehabilitation assignments for RHP Colin Holderman and LHP Ryan Borucki.
Holderman has been reinstated from the 15-day injured list, while Borucki has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list to the 28-man active roster.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 1, 2024
Pirates Fortify Beleaguered Bullpen By Reinstating Pitchers From Injured List
The Pirates bullpen has been beaten up lately. David Bednar, who is in the midst of a slump, has been demoted from the closer role. The Pirates will welcome reinforcements in the presence of two experienced, effective, high-leverage relievers.
Before going on the IL, Holderman was 3-5 with a 3.43 ERA, 1.381 WHIP, 15 holds, and 5 blown saves. During the season’s first three months, Holderman was the Pirates’ best reliever, while Bednar and Aroldis Chapman struggled with inconsistency. On June 22, the right-hander had a 0.68 ERA. After that, however, he was 0-5 with an 8.22 ERA, as opponents hit .371/.440/.694 against him. Finally, he was put on the IL on August 8 with a right wrist injury that had been bothering him. Whether or not that was the reason for his sudden ineffectiveness, the IL stint at least should have allowed him to step back and get some confidence back.
More interesting will be tracking Borucki’s progress as he returns from a long stay on the IL. Last year, general manager Ben Cherington plucked the lefty tosser from the waiver wire when he had a 12.00 ERA in 8 games with Triple-A Iowa in the Chicago Cubs system. While it wasn’t the most exciting news for Pirates fans, Cherington knew him when they were together with the Toronto Blue Jays. Cherington was Toronto’s vice president of baseball operations from 2016-19. Borucki pitched for the Jays from 2018-22. With the Pirates in 2023, Borucki was 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA, nine holds, and a major-league-best 0.744 WHIP. The Bucs thought highly enough of him to give him a $1.6 million contract for 2024. However, 2024 has been frustrating for Borucki. Injuries have limited him to 3 1/3 major-league innings pitched. He last pitched for the Pirates on April 5.
The Gang’s All Here – at Last
In 2023, the bullpen was a strength for the Pirates once Holderman, Borucki, and rookie Carmen Mlodzinski emerged to take on high-leverage roles behind closer Bednar. When Chapman was added to that group in the offseason, the Pirates expected to have a lockdown bullpen that “shortened the game” in the parlance of the TV talking heads. Unfortunately, September 1 is the first date all five were on the active roster at the same time. It comes way too late to help the Pirates’ disappearing postseason hopes. The Bucs don’t need to shorten the game as much as they need to lengthen this season. That’s not happening.
The Last Word
When Bednar was demoted from the closer role, manager Derek Shelton stated that he would go with a closer by committee. It was Chapman who got the first save opportunity on Saturday. It’s likely Chapman who will get the save opportunities going forward. Holderman and Borucki will thus pitch mostly in high-leverage, middle-relief roles.
Main Photo Credits: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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