Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Michael Darrell-Hicks has returned to the majors just a little over two weeks after being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels.
On Tuesday, the Pirates promoted Darrell-Hicks and optioned right-hander Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Indianapolis. The move came after Pittsburgh used five pitchers in a tight 5-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers and needed a fresh arm in the bullpen.
Darrell-Hicks, 27, appeared in six games for the Angels earlier this season, posting a 1-0 record with a 9.39 ERA before being designated on June 8. Pittsburgh claimed him off waivers and sent him to Indianapolis, where he threw two scoreless innings ahead of his promotion.
“It’s been a lot to take in,” Darrell-Hicks said. “Reaching the majors is the dream for everyone in this game, so I’m proud of that. I’m not exactly satisfied with how things have played out so far, but I’m grinding every day to get back to the form I want and to feel like myself on the mound.”
Meanwhile, 28-year-old Stratton struggled in his brief stint with the Pirates this year, giving up seven runs in just 2 2/3 innings across three appearances. Over his MLB career, he’s 2-1 with a 4.70 ERA and one save in 47 games.
“Hunter’s done a great job for us in the past,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly. “That’s what I told him—just to keep working. This was more about needing innings than anything else. I encouraged him to stay focused, keep being himself, and continue building on what he’s working on.”
Leave a Reply