Pirates send down OF Jack Suwinski after slow start

The Pittsburgh Pirates optioned outfielder Jack Suwinski to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday and recalled left-hander Jose Hernandez.

Suwinski, 25, was off to a slow start to the season, batting .174 with four home runs and 13 RBIs in 49 games. In 299 games over the past three seasons with Pittsburgh, he is a .209 hitter with 49 home runs and 125 RBIs.

Suwinski hit 26 home runs with 74 RBIs in 144 games last season.

Hernandez, 26, was 1-1 with a 1.93 ERA in six relief outings for the Pirates earlier this season. In 56 appearances over the past two seasons in Pittsburgh, he is 2-4 with a 4.72 ERA.