Pirates Recall Jack Suwinski to Aid Sputtering Offense

On his radio show last Sunday, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington stated what the rest of the world had known since PNC Park opened in 2001. “Better offenses tend to be balanced, and we all know PNC Park is generally going to be a little more favorable to left-hand hitters than right-hand hitters,” said Cherington. “[T]o build a good offense here. . . it is probably going to be a little bit more left-handed than we are currently.” It appears that Suwinski is the solution to that problem, at least until a trade is made.

Pirates Recall Jack Suwinski

Suwinski has fallen on hard times since he led the Pirates with 26 home runs in 2023. Never a hitter for a high average, since 2024, he’s hit .173/.264/.298 in the majors. Those seasons included constant shuttling between Pittsburgh and Triple-A Indianapolis.

Maybe he’s righted himself during this latest stint in Indy. In his last seven games, he’s 12-for-23 with a double and three home runs. The Pirates like to call up hot hitters while they’re on a roll, as they did earlier this season with Nick Solak. One guesses Suwinski is likely to see more playing time than did Solak. After a successful six-game homestand, the Pirates’ offense has sputtered again. They were shut out in all three games in Seattle over the weekend. Then they managed just three runs on four hits in KC on Monday night. Suwinski’s name is on Tuesday’s lineup card, hitting seventh and playing right field.

Shugart to the Injured List

In the corresponding move, relief pitcher Chase Shugart was placed on the 15-day injured list. At press time, specifics about his injury were not available. With the All-Star break approaching, the Pirates must feel that they can get by with a 12-man pitching staff. After the break, there will probably be another shoe to drop. Meanwhile, the Pirates will see whether Suwinski can inject some life into a morbid offense.