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The Pittsburgh Pirates have traded starting pitcher JT Brubaker to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later. The right-handed Brubaker is on the 60-day injured list due to last year’s Tommy John surgery. He sat out all of 2023. Brubaker, 30, is targeting a return to the mound around the All-Star break.
We have traded RHP JT Brubaker and international bonus pool money to the Yankees in exchange for a player to be named later.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) March 29, 2024
Pirates Trade Brubaker to Yankees
In three seasons with the Pirates from 2020-22, Brubaker is 9-28 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.384 WHIP. He has struck out 23.3 percent and walked 7.9 percent of batters faced, a bit better than the major league average in both categories. Hits against him have averaged an 88.5 mph exit velocity and a hard-hit rate of 39.2 percent, both figures right around the major league average. However, the slash line against him is .263/.331/.450, indicating a below-average pitcher.
Brubaker relies heavily on a sinking fastball that he threw 41.8 percent of the time in 2022. His three primary pitches show good separation. The sinker comes in at around 93 mph while he features an 87-mph slider and an 80-mph curve. The University of Akron product also throws a little-used four-seamer and change-up that opponents have hit for high averages.
What the Yankees are Getting
The Yankees are getting a back-of-the-rotation type starter who battles hard and still may reach his potential. In 2018, Brubaker was 10-6 with a 2.81 ERA in 28 starts across Double-A and Triple-A. He followed that up with a 2.28 ERA in the minors in 2019, albeit in only six starts before another injury. The Yankees will hope to unlock what made him successful in the minor leagues. Improving the four-seamer and the change-up, or ditching them altogether, may be part of that program.
Although the timing is surprising, it’s no shock that the Pirates have decided to move on from Brubaker. Most of their top prospects are pitchers, and they have several expecting to make their major league debuts in 2024. Jared Jones is already with the big club. Last year’s number-one overall pick, Paul Skenes, is a once-in-a-lifetime talent expected no later than June. We may also see Anthony Solometo, Bubba Chandler, and Tom Harrington before 2024 is over.
Despite their well-documented need for starters, the Yankees were a surprising trade partner as well. With the Pirates having traded Brubaker, it will be interesting to see how the Yankees employ him once he’s healthy.
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The 'Switch-hitter single-season HR leaders' quiz
Regardless of what happens in October, the summer of 2025 will be remembered as the summer of Cal Raleigh. Raleigh has smashed record after record this season, starting in August when he became the first catcher to hit 50 home runs in one season. On Tuesday – in his MLB-leading 10th multi-home run game of the season – he passed Mickey Mantle for the most home runs by a switch-hitter in a season with his 55th before tying Ken Griffey Jr. for the most home runs by a Mariner on his 56th against the Kansas City Royals. The most recent homers also came in a 12-5 win that marked 10-straight for the surging Mariners, who have finally overtaken the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West. Which brings us to today’s quiz. A major league switch-hitter has hit at least 35 home runs on 35 occasions in MLB history. How many of the switch-hitters to reach that milestone can you name in five minutes? Good luck! Did you like this quiz? Are there any quizzes you’d like to see us make in the future? Let us know your thoughts at quizzes@yardbarker.com, and make sure to subscribe to our Quiz of the Day Newsletter for daily quizzes sent right to your email!
Raiders' Pete Carroll admits disappointing truth about Ashton Jeanty
The Las Vegas Raiders had high hopes and expectations when they took Boise State phenom Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick in this year's draft. It's becoming increasingly rare to see running backs drafted so high, but after watching him post one of the single greatest seasons in college football history, he looked more than worthy of that honor. So far, however, the 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist has looked quite mortal in his first two games in the pros. Ashton Jeanty hasn't gotten off to a fast start in the NFL He logged 38 yards and one score in his NFL debut, and then logged just 43 yards on 11 carries in the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2. That's why Raiders head coach Pete Carroll had to admit that they needed to take things slowly with Jeanty. While he acknowledged that they hadn't done much to put Jeanty in a position to succeed, he remains optimistic about the RB's prospects. "We're just getting started (with Jeanty)," Carroll told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "He's breaking into the NFL. He's figuring it out. He'll get more carries. We have to run the ball more effectively. We only got (68 yards), and that's not enough. We need more than that. We're bringing (Jeanty) along. More will come." Ashton Jeanty knows he has to do better Jeanty is averaging 2.7 yards per attempt, which is a far cry from his 6.4 yards per carry in college. At least he knows he has to be better, and he believes it's just a matter of time before he gets used to the speed of the pros. "Last week it was on me, I didn't do a good job of reading the plays. I'll put it on myself again this week," Jeanty said. "Just getting used to the speed, honestly. Last week kind of felt like I was moving a little slower, this week felt better. Still not there yet, but once it happens, it will be good." Jeanty continued commenting on the situation on Wednesday. He didn't mince words. Jeanty has posted the fewest rushing yards (81) among players with at least 30 carries, and his next chance to turn the page will come in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders' beatable run defense.
Kyle Shanahan has surprising Brock Purdy update — 49ers are confident in QB situation regardless
Brock Purdy missed the San Francisco 49ers' Week 2 win over the New Orleans Saints with a toe and left shoulder injury he suffered in Week 1. At the time, there was a chance that the injury could keep the quarterback out multiple weeks, but now head coach Kyle Shanahan has provided what seems to be a positive update for this weekend's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Kyle Shanahan provides key update on Brock Purdy "He wasn't limited last week," Shanahan said. "He does have a chance [to play]," Shanahan said on Wednesday, according to Nick Wagoner of ESPN. According to Wagoner's reporting, of the two injuries, the toe issue seems to be more significant, and it was considered the main reason Purdy didn't play in Week 2. It's similar to turf toe. He was in the 49ers' locker room after that game, though, and he told reporters that his status for the Week 3 game was, "we'll see." Connect those dots and it sounds like, at the very least, Purdy feels hopeful about his chances. If he's not fully back and able to go, he could also at least suit up and act as a backup for Mac Jones. San Francisco 49ers confident in Brock Purdy's backup If Purdy is out for the second straight week, Jones proved against the Saints that he can lead this team to a victory. The former first-round pick of the New England Patriots completed 26 of 39 passes against New Orleans for 279 yards and three touchdowns. On Monday, running back Christian McCaffrey was among the players in the locker room who expressed confidence in Jones. "In this league, whether or not you're a starter or a backup, you got to be ready to go at any point," McCaffrey said, per Wagoner. "In the NFL, you just never know. It's such a talented league and so many great players on the field. And Mac obviously is somebody who's proven himself already, but to have him as our backup is huge." Out of Alabama, Jones was selected with pick No. 15 in the 2021 NFL Draft as the "heir apparent" to Tom Brady in the final years of the Bill Belichick era in New England. He flashed talent but was never able to be consistent. He also had incredibly big shoes to fill, so a case could be made that he was doomed to fail from the very start of his NFL career. Jones started 42 games for the Patriots over three seasons, and he threw for 8,918 yards and 46 touchdowns compared to 36 interceptions. He's on a two-year, $8.4 million deal with the 49ers after spending the 2024 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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