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Pirates Demote Player Despite Successful MLB Stint
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- Pirates Demote Player Despite Successful MLB Stint
The Pittsburgh Pirates made a head-scratching roster move on Sunday prior to their series finale against the Cleveland Guardians .
On Saturday, the team called up their No. 21 overall prospect, right-handed pitcher Khristian Curtis.
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The organization drafted the 24-year-old in 2023 and made his major league debut on Sunday.
Coming out of the bullpen following an opener, Curtis shined in Cleveland. He delivered five innings of two hit, zero run ball with four strikeouts.
This type of performance in a debut would normally keep a player in the big leagues for another shot, but the Pirates decided to demote the right-hander Sunday morning.
While the move is frustrating following his impressive debut, the Pirates likely moved him down since he would not be able to pitch in Sunday's contest.
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There is no doubt that Curtis will receive another shot at the big league level following this performance, it is just a matter of when.
Another reason for his demotion could be his numbers at the Triple-A level this season. Curtis has struggled in the minor leagues, pitching to a 5.57 ERA in six games with the Indianapolis Indians.
We could see a call-up following a couple successful outings down in Triple-A.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
