The Pittsburgh Pirates have promoted right-handed pitcher Jose Contreras to Indianapolis, per an Altoona press release. Contreras was previously with Altoona, working his way back from an elbow injury last year. He pitched back to back games last week on the 20th and 21st in Altoona, and will now go to Indianapolis for the next step.
The Pirates also transferred infielder Oscar Tejeda from Indianapolis to Altoona.
UPDATE 6:31 PM: Rob Biertempfel has a return date for Contreras:
Updating Contreras note: He's slated to pitch Sunday and Monday, take two days off, then likely join #Pirates May 3 v #Nationals
— RobBiertempfel (@RobBiertempfel) April 26, 2013
Tim started Pirates Prospects in 2009 from his home in Virginia, which was 40 minutes from where Pedro Alvarez made his pro debut in Lynchburg. That year, the Lynchburg Hillcats won the Carolina League championship, and Pirates Prospects was born from Tim's reporting along the way. The site has grown over the years to include many more writers, and Tim has gone on to become a credentialed MLB reporter, producing Pirates Prospects each year, and will publish his 11th Prospect Guide this offseason. He has also served as the Pittsburgh Pirates correspondent for Baseball America since 2019. Behind the scenes, Tim is an avid music lover, and most of the money he gets paid to run this site goes to vinyl records.
Who from the bullpen likely goes down when Jose comes up? Hughes? or does Sanchez go down and Gomez get the spot start?
I hate to admit it as I was not a fan of Gomez making the team, but he has pitched better than I expected, even if it’s only been long relief
Literally the worst case scenario for Sanchez. There is no possible way Hurdle can march him out there again. I’m guessing we see a fresh arm from AAA (probably Oliver). Hughes has been the weakest link in the bullpen and I expect he gets sent down somewhat soon.
After Sanchez’s implosion tonight, does he get one more start (5/1 vs MIL?) before Liriano arrives or is he done and Andy Oliver gets a spot start?