The Pittsburgh Pirates have gotten off to a hot start in 2024 going 5-0 to start the season taking the first four games over the Miami Marlins then following it up by taking the first game of their three-game series against the Washington Nationals. Tomorrow will be game two against the Nationals with Mitch Keller on the mound making his second start of the season, in his first start he went 5.2 innings giving up five runs, only four of which were earned on seven hits; he walked two and stuck out three. Today, the Pirates were active in making a pair of trades, first, they acquired infielder Kervin Pichardo from the San Diego Padres in exchange for LHP Jackson Wolf. Pichardo was sent to Double-A Altoona. The other trade was acquiring catcher Joey Bart from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for RHP Austin Strickland.
Pirates Roster Moves By The Numbers
Kervin Pichardo
The highest level Pichardo has reached is Triple-A with the Padres back in 2022. He spent time as well in the Phillies organization reaching as high as High-A with them. In 2023 he played in 85 games at High-A and Double-A hitting .257 with a .772 OPS; he had eight doubles, ten home runs, 43 RBI, 34 runs scored, eight stolen bases, and 39 walks.
Jackson Wolf
Wolf spent time in the Padres system and even with them in the big leagues before this trade. With the Padres in the MLB, he made one start getting a win going five innings giving up three runs on six hits; he walked one and struck out one. In the minors last season he made 26 starts going 8-13 with a 4.13 ERA, a 1.11 WHIP, and 135 strikeouts in 124.1 innings.
Joey Bart
Bart was expected to be the Giants replacement for Buster Posey but it never panned out appearing in 162 major league games hitting .219 with a .623 OPS; he had 16 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 38 RBI, 59 runs scored, two stolen bases, and 32 walks. In 2023 in Triple-A he hit .248 with a .750 OPS and with the Giants, he hit .207 with a .528 OPS.
Austin Strickland
Strickland was drafted in the eighth round of last season’s draft and has yet to play in a game for the Pirates. In college at Kentucky he made 54 appearances going 7-7 with a 5.28 ERA, a 1.35 WHIP, and 124 strikeouts in 102.1 innings.
