A few roster updates this afternoon:
**The Pirates have activated Jose Tabata from the disabled list. To make room they have optioned Brandon Cumpton to Triple-A.
**Phil Irwin had ulnar nerve transposition surgery on his right-elbow today. He is expected to miss approximately two months of action.
**Jared Hughes will go to Florida for his rehab work. I’m guessing he’s going to be pitching for the Marauders.
**Kyle McPherson will visit Dr. James Andrews next week, according to Michael Sanserino.
#Pirates announce RHP Kyle McPherson will visit Dr. James Andrews next week.
— Michael Sanserino (@msanserino) July 3, 2013
The activation of Tabata isn’t a surprise. The Pirates were expected to send Cumpton down after his start and replace him with a position player. Tabata was finishing up a rehab assignment and made the most sense, as he has to be added to the roster.
That’s not good news for Irwin or McPherson, although we already knew they were down with injuries and they’ve already missed a lot of time this year. The unfortunate thing for each pitcher is that this would have been a prime year for each of them to step up and show what they could do in the majors. With all of the injuries the Pirates have seen at the major league level, at least one of them could have stepped up and claimed a rotation spot for next year.
