As rosters expand by two for the month of September, the Pittsburgh Pirates have selected outfielder/first baseman Miguel Andújar and have reinstated relief pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski from the 15-day injured list.
Additionally, right-hander Max Kranick was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
To make room for Andújar and Kranick on the 40-man roster, outfielder Cal Mitchell and right-handed reliever Yohan Ramirez were designated for assignment.
Andújar appeared in 13 games for the Pirates earlier this month and collected five hits in 31 at-bats. Three of those five hits went for extra bases — one double and two homers — and Andújar drove in six runs.
The 28-year-old has had a strong season at the plate all season with Indianapolis. In 103 games, Andújar is second in the International League in RBIs (86), third in batting average (.338) tied for sixth in doubles (30) and is ninth in OPS (.940).
He’s slugged 16 homers and has drawn 47 walks to go along with 55 strikeouts in 465 plate appearances.
Andújar has split his time fairly evenly between left field, right field, first base and designated hitter and could fill in at all spots for the Pittsburgh Pirates when needed for the final month of the season.
Mlodzinski, meanwhile, has been on the IL with right elbow soreness since Aug. 12. He recently made a rehab appearance with Indianapolis where he allowed one unearned run in an inning of relief.
The right-hander has impressed in his rookie season with the Pirates. In 21 appearances, Mlodzinski is 2-3 with a 2.28 ERA across 23.2 innings pitched.
Kranick has been working his way from Tommy John surgery, a procedure he underwent last summer.
In four rehab starts between the Bradenton Marauders and Indianapolis Indians, the 26-year-old has posted an 8.64 ERA (8er/8.1ip).
Ramirez has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Pirates and has posted an identical 3.67 ERA each year.
With Indianapolis this year, Ramirez was 1-1 with a 4.43 ERA across 22.1 innings spanning 18 appearances.
Mitchell appeared in only two games with the Pirates earlier in the year and went hitless in four at-bats. The 24-year-old played in 69 games with Pittsburgh last season and hit .226 with a .635 OPS, 11 doubles, five home runs and 17 RBIs.
The Pirates’ 40-man roster is at 40.
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