The Pittsburgh Pirates placed first baseman Spencer Horwitz on the injured list after he departed Wednesday evening’s contest against the Mariners with hamstring discomfort.
Shortstop Jack Brannigan was recalled from Double-A Altoona in a corresponding transaction Thursday.
Brannigan, 25, the club’s No. 22 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, would be in line to make his MLB debut.
Rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin was also present at PNC Park on Thursday, as the Pirates prepare to wrap their three-game series with Seattle.
Griffin, currently on the injured list with a right elbow strain, is rehabbing with the Curve, who have an off-day Thursday.
Horwitz had been one of the Pirates’ top batters this season, slashing .280/.386/.455 with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs through 74 games.
Horwitz’s on-base percentage of .386 is the 12th-highest in baseball and sixth in the National League.
The 28-year-old, in Year 2 with the Pirates, has made 65 starts at first base. Since late May, when Oneil Cruz headed to the injured list, Horwitz had also served as the Pirates’ primary leadoff hitter.
Brannigan earned his first big-league recall following a frustrating string of injuries, including shoulder surgery at the end of last season and a broken nose that caused him to miss the entirety of spring training.
This season at Double-A, he’s appeared in 31 games, batting .235 with eight homers and 18 RBIs.
Defensively, he’s primarily deployed at shortstop, making 31 minor-league starts there with one at third base.
Griffin dominated Game 1 of his rehab assignment with the Curve on Wednesday, as the 20-year-old hit a triple, home run and drew a walk with three RBIs.
At the moment, there has been no timetable revealed regarding Griffin’s return to major-league action.
When he was healthy, he was enjoying a solid rookie campaign, slashing .270/.327/.402 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 51 games.