The Pittsburgh Pirates have reinstated right handed pitcher Ross Ohlendorf from the 60-day disabled list and have optioned him to AAA, the team announced today. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Pirates have designated relief pitcher Tim Wood for assignment. Wood was signed as a minor league free agent in March, and put up a 5.63 ERA in eight innings with the Pirates in a brief appearance in the majors. At the AAA level he put up a 2.84 ERA in 44.1 innings, serving mostly as the Indianapolis closer.
Ohlendorf has been out since April with a shoulder injury, ad has been rehabbing for the last month. In three starts at the AAA level, spanning 17.1 innings, he had a 3.63 ERA and a 7:7 K/BB ratio. In his last start he threw 103 pitches, although his numbers haven’t been dominant, especially with the strikeouts. Between the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Ohlendorf combined for a 3.98 ERA in 285 innings, with a 5.9 K/9 and a 3.1 BB/9 ratio. He was easily the best Pirates’ starter in the majors, statistically, in each of the last two seasons. However, the strength of the rotation this year has blocked his return to the majors. His next scheduled start in AAA will be Sunday.
