[Update, 3:27 p.m. — The Pirates confirmed Cumpton is in Pittsburgh, currently a part of the taxi squad but not yet added to the active roster.]
Pitcher Brandon Cumpton will make Saturday’s start for the Pittsburgh Pirates, according to Chelsa Messinger, Sports Anchor for the NBC affiliate in Columbus, Georgia.
Congrats to Former @GT_Baseball Pitcher Brandon Cumpton will make his major league debut on Saturday for the #Pirates
— Chelsa Messinger (@ChelsaMessinger) June 14, 2013
Cumpton, 24, was already scheduled to pitch Saturday for Triple-A Indianapolis. Since being promoted from Double-A, Cumpton has a 3.31 ERA, 49 strikeouts and 22 walks in 65.1 innings. The right-hander is coming off his longest start of the season, allowing two earned runs in 7.1 innings against Norfolk. His fastball reached 96 mph in Spring Training.
The Pirates would have to open up a spot on the 40-man roster, as well as the active 25-man roster, for Cumpton. The Georgia Tech product was drafted in the 9th round of the 2010 Draft. Last season for Double-A Altoona, he had a high groundball rate and a 3.84 ERA but just 88 strikeouts in 152 innings.
UPDATE 3:53 PM: Clint Hurdle has confirmed Cumpton will start.
