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Minor Moves: Barrett Barnes Update, Pat Ludwig Retires

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Yesterday, we announced that Barrett Barnes has been assigned to Extended Spring Training. Today we get word that he has lower body soreness and the move is just precautionary based on his past history with hamstring issues. Barnes is hitting .450 this season with Bradenton. He hasn’t played since Wednesday.

Pitcher Pat Ludwig decided to retire after not making the Altoona Opening Day roster this year. The 2012 10th round draft pick split last season between Bradenton and Altoona, posting a 4.53 ERA in 108 innings. He made 13 starts and 15 relief appearances.

The Pirates originally signed 21 players during the 2012 draft and that number is now down to 12 left in the system, though technically Tyler Gaffney is still a member of the organization. He’s on the restricted list and the Pirates hold his rights as he pursues an NFL career.

One other move from Indianapolis. Catcher Wilkin Castillo has been assigned to the West Virginia Black Bears. He was serving as the backup catcher to Elias Diaz, but Tony Sanchez was recently returned to AAA. Castillo will likely have to wait for an opening at catcher with either Altoona or Indianapolis before he returns to action.

John Dreker
John Dreker
John started working at Pirates Prospects in 2009, but his connection to the Pittsburgh Pirates started exactly 100 years earlier when Dots Miller debuted for the 1909 World Series champions. John was born in Kearny, NJ, two blocks from the house where Dots Miller grew up. From that hometown hero connection came a love of Pirates history, as well as the sport of baseball. When he didn't make it as a lefty pitcher with an 80+ MPH fastball and a slider that needed work, John turned to covering the game, eventually focusing in on the prospects side, where his interest was pushed by the big league team being below .500 for so long. John has covered the minors in some form since the 2002 season, and leads the draft and international coverage on Pirates Prospects. He writes daily on Pittsburgh Baseball History, when he's not covering the entire system daily throughout the entire year on Pirates Prospects.

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