According to Matt Eddy from Baseball America, the Pittsburgh Pirates have released right-handed pitcher Tyler Sample. He was a minor league rule 5 draft pick in December of 2013, taken from the Kansas City Royals. The Pirates re-signed him this off-season after he hit minor league free agency. Sample pitched for Bradenton and Altoona last year, putting up high strikeout and walk numbers, with the latter plaguing him during his entire minor league career.
This year, Sample pitched briefly for Altoona and the numbers were very poor, giving up seven runs in 8.1 innings, with 11 walks. At 6’7″, with a mid-90’s fastball, he has always had that potential tag since being drafted out of high school in the third round of the 2003 draft. Some team will likely take a chance on him, though he may have to take the John Holdzkom/independent ball route to get back to affiliated ball.