After making three cuts from Major League camp on Friday morning, the Pittsburgh Pirates made another two after Friday’s loss to the Baltimore Orioles. Infielder Chris Bostick has been optioned to Indianapolis, while second baseman Erich Weiss has been reassigned to minor league camp. The active Spring Training roster is now at 51 players.
Bostick was acquired right before the end of the 2016 season from the Washington Nationals in exchange for minor league catcher Taylor Gushue. Bostick wasn’t expected to make the Pirates, but he should be a key member for Indianapolis. With a 40-man roster spot, he will be in position to make his Major League debut in 2017 if he can perform as well as he did in Double-A last year. Before being promoted to Triple-A in late June, the 23-year-old Bostick hit .290/.356/.462 for Harrisburg. He struggled with his first taste of Triple-A, posting a .559 OPS in 64 games. He spent most of his time at second base last year, but he will likely take on a utility role for Indianapolis, seeing time in the outfield and three infield spots. He hit a double in his last at-bat on Friday and finished with a .304 average and .945 OPS in 14 spring games.
Weiss had a strong finish to his first Major League spring, hitting a long home run in his last at-bat on Friday. He hit .316/.428/.546 in 12 games this spring. The 25-year-old second baseman had a solid season in Altoona last year. This year, the Pirates plan to get him more time at other positions to help his value. He has been taking infield at shortstop and third base, which was his position in college. Weiss could open at Indianapolis this year, though a crowded team might push him back to Altoona to start the season.
