Pirates place RHP Braxton Ashcraft on family leave, recall righty reliever Cam Sanders

Kevin Gorman TribLive Sat, Apr 25, 2026 • 03:53 PM

Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers to the Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson during the sixth inning on Sunday, April 5, 2026, at PNC Park. (Christopher Horner | TribLive)

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft on the Major League Bereavement/Family Medical Emergency list Saturday, temporarily taking a starter out of the rotation.

Ashcraft, 26, is 1-1 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 32 strikeouts against nine walks in 29 2/3 innings over five starts this season.

To replace Ashcraft on the active roster, the Pirates added a reliever to the bullpen and recalled right-hander Cam Sanders from Triple-A Indianapolis. It marks the second stint for Sanders with the Pirates, as he allowed four runs on three hits and a walk with two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning against Tampa Bay on April 18.