The Pittsburgh Pirates made their final cut of spring training, reassigning right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger to minor league camp in a move that determined the final two spots in the bullpen.
The 35-year-old Clevinger was 1-0 with a 5.02 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 15 strikeouts against 10 walks and a .200 batting average against in 14⅓ innings over five appearances, including two starts. Clevinger has the most major league experience of the remaining bullpen candidates, with 164 appearances (142) over nine seasons with Cleveland, San Diego and the Chicago White Sox.
The Pirates opted to keep righty Jose Urquidy and lefty Hunter Barco in the bullpen in bulk relief roles.
Urquidy, 30, made the team despite struggling this spring. He was 0-1 with a 0.28 ERA, 1.69 WHIP and eight strikeouts with three walks and a .319 batting average against in four games (three starts). But Urquidy has six years of major league experience, with 81 career appearances that includes 70 starts for the Houston Astros from 2019-23.
Barco, ranked the No. 96 prospect by MLB Pipeline, had a strong spring by going 1-0 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 12 strikeouts against six walks and a .156 batting average against in 9⅓ innings over four appearances (two starts).
All three pitchers were competing for the final spot in the starting rotation, which was earned by righty Carmen Mlodzinski.
There are now 27 players (26 active) in big league camp:
Pitchers: Braxton Aschcraft, Hunter Barco, Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones (60-day IL), Justin Lawrence, Mitch Keller, Isaac Mattson, Carmen Mlodzinski, Mason Montgomery, Yohan Ramirez, Paul Skenes, Dennis Santana, Gregory Soto, Jose Urquidy
Catchers: Joey Bart, Henry Davis
Infielders: Nick Gonzales, Spencer Horwitz, Brandon Lowe, Jared Triolo
Infielders/outfielders: Ryan O’Hearn, Nick Yorke
Outfielders: Billy Cook, Oneil Cruz, Jake Mangum, Bryan Reynolds
Designated hitter: Marcell Ozuna