Bucs call up Gosselin, DFA Bastardo

July 8th, 2017

CHICAGO -- The Pirates made a roster move on Saturday afternoon, recalling infielder Phil Gosselin from Triple-A Indianapolis and designating left-hander for assignment.
Gosselin, who joined the team on Saturday and will wear No. 17, was hitting .287 with 11 extra-base hits and 18 RBIs prior to the callup. He has already played in 24 games with the Pirates this season and has had some success at the Major League level.
Gosselin hit .311 over 44 games in 2015 with two teams and slashed .277/.324/.368 with the D-backs last season. Although his batting numbers aren't as great this season, he did have the luxury of working on all facets of his game in the Minors, leading up to his return to the club.
"He was giving them professional at-bats. He was hitting the ball hard where it was pitched," manager Clint Hurdle said. "He moved around the infield, played short, some second. It was just getting in a routine and reps that were making him more efficient out of the box."
As for Bastardo, he got off to a rough start, allowing earned runs in his first six outings before he was placed on the disabled list at the end of April with a strained left quad.
Upon his return to the Majors, Bastardo allowed earned runs in two of three outings, finishing his season with the Pirates with a 15.00 ERA.
"He went down and put so much work in. And specific work," Hurdle said. "And then we couldn't find a spike in velocity, any more crispness in the pitches, really, to when he exited. Just felt for both parties it was time to move on. Clear landing spot for him hopefully somewhere.
"He did everything he could to fight his way back here. He gave us some good work while he was here at different times. I wish him well moving forward."
• Prior to the 2014 season, the Pirates announced an extension of Hurdle's contract for three more years, with a club option for 2018. Nearing the midpoint of the 2017 season, it has yet to be announced if the team will pick up that option or negotiate a new deal.
On Saturday, Hurdle was asked about the status of any negotiations, and he noted that there hadn't been much action on that front just yet.
"I haven't had any conversations about that to this point, and I'm not going to have any now," he said. "I just love where I'm at right now. I'm in the best physical condition I've been in a long time. I love the energy that this team has, that this organization has, and the time spent -- the players, people I'm working with in [general manager] Neal [Huntington] and [director of player development] Kyle [Stark]. I've had a blast here."