The Pittsburgh Pirates are bringing another versatile bat to the major league roster after selecting the contract of utilityman Ronny Simon from Triple-A Indianapolis following Monday night's game against the Milwaukee Brewers.
MLB.com Pirates beat writer Alex Stumpf first reported the move. Because Simon was playing on a minor league free agent contract, Pittsburgh will need to make corresponding moves to create room on both its 26-man active roster and 40-man roster.
The Pirates entered Tuesday with a 57-58 record, sitting third in the National League Central and looking to build momentum after opening their four-game series against the Brewers with a 4-3 victory.
Simon earned another opportunity after an outstanding season with Triple-A Indianapolis. The 26-year-old switch-hitter slashed .330/.419/.470 with an .889 OPS across 99 games while collecting 26 doubles, seven home runs, 63 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.
The versatile infielder and outfielder also brings previous major league experience, appearing in 27 games last season between the Miami Marlins and Pirates. His ability to play multiple positions gives manager Don Kelly another flexible option off the bench.
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Pittsburgh has not yet announced the corresponding roster moves needed to officially add Simon to both the active and 40-man rosters. Those decisions are expected before he can make his return to the major leagues.
The promotion continues the Pirates' effort to improve their roster depth during the second half of the season. Simon's speed, defensive versatility and strong offensive production at Triple-A could provide an immediate boost as Pittsburgh looks to stay competitive during the final two months of the regular season.
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