The Pittsburgh Pirates have selected the following four players to their 40-man roster:
Liover Peguero (INF) - The 20-year-old Peguero hit .270 (101-for-374) with 19 doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, 45 RBI, a .332 OBP and .444 slugging percentage in 90 games while spending the entire 2021 season with High-A Greensboro. Peguero’s 14 home runs ranked third among all High-A East League players 20-years-old or younger while his .934 fielding percentage ranked third among all qualified shortstops in the High-A East League (seventh-best among all High-A shortstops). Peguero, who was acquired by the Pirates from Arizona on January 27, 2020, is currently ranked 66th overall among FanGraphs’ top 100 prospects (77th overall by Baseball America). FanGraphs also ranks Peguero as the 15thbest shortstop prospect in all of baseball.
Canaan Smith-Njigba (OF) - The 22-year-old Smith-Njigba is currently playing in the Arizona Fall League, where he has hit .298 (17-for-57) with a .908 OPS in 18 games with Peoria (thru today). Smith-Njigba batted .258 (62-for-240) with 11 doubles, six home runs and 42 RBI in 73 minor league games in 2021 with Altoona and Indianapolis. The left-handed hitting outfielder, who is currently ranked by MLB Pipeline as Pittsburgh’s 27th-best prospect, also finished with the highest OBP (.398) among all Altoona players this past season (minimum: 250 plate appearances). Smith-Njigba was one of four players acquired from the Yankees in exchange for Jameson Taillon on 1/24.
Jack Suwinski (OF) - The 23-year-old Suwinski hit .262 (96-for-367) with 17 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs and 58 RBI in 111 minor league games in 2021. He ranked fifth among all players at the Double-A level in walk percentage (15.6), 12th in OBP (.383) and 16th in OPS (.868). Suwinski’s 77 Weighted Runs Created were also tied for the fourth-most among all players at the Double-A level. He was one of three players acquired from San Diego on 7/26 in exchange for Adam Frazier.
Travis Swaggerty (OF) - The 24-year-old Swaggerty is currently ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh’s 14th-best prospect and just outside the top 100 prospects according to FanGraphs at #107. Swaggerty, who was limited to 12 games in 2021 due to a shoulder injury, also entered last season rated by Baseball America as having the “Best Outfield Arm” in Pittsburgh’s minor league system. Swaggerty, who was selected 10th overall in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft, has produced a .255 career average with 30 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 67 RBI and 35 stolen bases in 185 games at the minor league level since making his professional debut in 2018.
To make room on the 40-man roster, catcher Michael Perez has been designated for assignment.
The 40-man roster is currently at 40 players and consists of 20 pitchers, one catcher, 11 infielders and eight outfielders.