PITTSBURGH, Pa. — As expected, the Pittsburgh Pirates activated right-hander Jason Grilli from the Bereavement list today, and optioned left-hander Jeff Locke to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Grilli will be active for today’s game from the bullpen against the New York Mets. Grilli has posted a 2.25 ERA over 17 appearances (16.0 innings) with 27 strikeouts and nine walks.
Locke didn’t make an appearance from the bullpen for the club after being promoted on Sunday. The 24-year-old, who made his Major League debut with Pittsburgh in September last season, was only going to be available from the ‘pen in long relief if a starter was taken out of the game early. Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle did not want to put Locke into a situation to pitch one inning that he’s never had to do before. Locke has been a starter since being drafted by Atlanta in 2006.
“Jeff was here for a role that never presented itself,” Hurdle said. “As I mentioned yesterday before the game, if we ran through an [opportunity] when there were a couple innings to be pitched, he would be used that way. He wasn’t going to be used situational anytime he was here.”
Locke will throw a bullpen today and will return to the rotation with Triple-A Indy.
