Pirates release former 26-homer outfielder after major regression in recent years originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Pittsburgh Pirates have been making a few interesting additions this winter, with Ryan O'Hearn, Marcell Ozuna, and Brandon Lowe headlining their big pickups this offseason.
The lineup looks a bit different than it has in years prior, and it's a good thing. While the starting lineup looks different, so too does the Pirates' depth behind their starters, especially amid their latest roster move.
According to Robert Murray of Fansided.com, the Pirates are designating for assignment a four-year outfielder in Jack Suwinski. The former 26-homer slugger is being released and will have a chance to join a new team this offseason.
Pirates to release Jack Suwinski after rough seasons
"Sources: The Pirates are designating Jack Suwinski for assignment," Murray reported Monday morning.
Suwinski is a 27-year-old slugger who, during the 2023 MLB season, hit 26 home runs and put up 2.1 bWAR with a .224 batting average and .793 OPS.
That followed his .709 OPS rookie season, where he hit 19 home runs and put up a respectable 1.3 bWAR. But things took a major turn for the worse in 2024.
In 88 games, Suwinski hit just .182 with nine home runs and a rough .588 OPS. His -1.7 bWAR was not great, and he didn't last the full season in the Majors amid some massive regression.
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Then, in 2025, Suwinski got back in the Majors for 53 games, posting -0.3 bWAR on a .147 batting average with a .534 OPS with three homers in the worst hitting season of his career.
While he was better in the minors, hitting .283 with a .954 OPS in 56 games in Triple-A in 2025, Suwinski's Major League struggles made him a player the Pirates didn't have a roster spot for.
The 27-year-old outfielder is now being DFA'd and will have a chance to join a new team for the 2026 season. The Pirates are finally moving on from Suwinski following back-to-back brutal seasons in the Majors for the former promising slugger.
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