There was no such thing as a head coach in baseball so this is just another BS …
The Pirates signed reliever Justin Bruihl to a one-year deal and added him to the active roster on Thursday, according to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf.
The left-hander, who had been released by the Reds earlier this week, could be a much-needed piece in Pittsburgh’s beleaguered bullpen. The corresponding move has not yet been announced.
Bruihl came up in the Dodgers’ organization and made his major league debut in 2021. His rookie season showed signs of promise. He only allowed runs in three of his 21 big league appearances and boasted a stretch of 10 straight scoreless outings. He mostly featured as a middle reliever for Los Angeles, earning three holds as a rookie and turning in three scoreless appearances (two innings total) in that season’s National League Championship Series.
Bruihl functioned as a “taxi squad” player for the Dodgers, bouncing between Triple-A and the majors until he was dealt to Colorado at the Trade Deadline in 2023. His stats last year reveal a concerning trend; his ERA ballooned to 5.46 (14.73 in seven appearances with the Rockies) with 11 walks to 22 strikeouts.
The lefty had spent the first months of the 2024 season with the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate in Louisville. He seems to have found his form a bit. He currently holds a 2.31 ERA across 19 appearances.
