The Pirates are turning to another young hitter to try to spark their struggling offense. Outfielder Jordan Luplow, once a candidate to be the club's starting left fielder this season, was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
In a corresponding move, the Pirates optioned right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes to High-A Bradenton, which will allow him to start for the Marauders during the Triple-A All-Star break next week. Luplow has batted .330/.412/.561 in 59 games for the Indians since May 1. He was among the final cuts in spring training, when the Pirates opted to carry eight relievers for opening day.
With the Pirates having 11 games over the next 10 days, an additional bench bat was necessary. However, Luplow does not offer much versatility. A right-handed hitter, he can play both corner outfield positions, and he's joining what is already a crowded outfield.
He will become the club's fifth outfielder, although his presence could allow Clint Hurdle to give his three starters — Gregory Polanco, Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson — a break during this final stretch before the All-Star break. Also, Austin Meadows had only five hits in 29 at-bats during the nine-game road trip.
Luplow was batting .297/.382/.487 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 77 games for Indianapolis, despite batting only .180 during April. The 24-year-old was batting .422 over his past 22 games, posting a 1.006 OPS in May. Luplow, the Pirates' minor league player of the year in 2017, batted .205 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and 22 strikeouts to six walks in 27 major-league games last season.
He was promoted by the Pirates after hitting 23 home runs with 56 RBIs in 117 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
Holmes, 25, was tagged for four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings Wednesday in Los Angeles, when he made a spot start in place of Joe Musgrove, who was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right index finger infection. Holmes initially was recalled last month to be a long reliever, but the spot start made him unavailable for this weekend's series, and the Pirates' off-day Thursday has their bullpen relatively well-rested.
With Holmes gone, the Pirates' bullpen consists of Felipe Vazquez, Steven Brault, Tyler Glasnow, Kyle Crick, Richard Rodriguez, Dovydas Neverauskas, Edgar Santana and Josh Smoker.
The roster move will allow Holmes to return to the routine of a starting pitcher, despite the Indians having their All-Star break next week. The right-hander pitched only once in 12 days when he was first promoted by the Pirates on April 1, and he threw only twice during this latest stint.