The Pittsburgh Pirates shook up their lineup Tuesday with a series of roster moves that brought back a pair of big bats who struggled early this season and a veteran reliever to help the bullpen.

The Pirates recalled catcher Henry Davis, infielder Liover Peguero and outfielder Jack Suwinski and selected the contract of right-handed reliever Ben Heller from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Davis and Suwinski were inserted into the starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at PNC Park, with Davis catching rookie right-hander Jared Jones and Suwinski starting in center field.

“Obviously, we had the opportunity last week, we thought he needed a little bit more time,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Davis. “Just the overall adjustments he’s made, the commitment he made to it. I think you’re gonna see a setup that’s very similar to what we saw last year, an approach that we saw last year. I really feel confident in the fact that we sent him down with a solid message and he bought into it and did a really good job.”

Suwinski got a quick call-up after being optioned May 23 because the Pirates had a need for a center fielder with Ji Hwan Bae (sprained right wrist) placed on the 10-day injured list and Michael A. Taylor on the paternity list.

“Sometimes the circumstances of what happens — Michael’s on paternity and Bae being hurt — Jack still has things to work on and we will continue to still work on those things,” Shelton said. “It’s important that we have someone to play center field. The other thing is, Jack has performed at the major-league level. Is it quicker than we thought? Yeah, sometimes circumstances happen, but I think there’s also confidence in the ability that he’s had success at the major-league level and we can continue to work on those things.”

The 24-year-old Davis, the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, batted .296/.436/.642 with seven doubles, seven home runs and 17 RBIs with 25 strikeouts and 10 walks in 23 games at Indianapolis. He was optioned May 3 after batting .162 (11 for 68) with three doubles and four RBIs, 29 strikeouts and 11 walks in 23 games for the Pirates. Davis started 21 games at catcher while Yasmani Grandal was on the IL.

“Obviously, the difference is in the results,” Davis said. “It’s Triple-A, right? It’s not the big leagues, but definitely focusing on what I’m good at and not worrying about my swing or all the little things that can complicate your process: Just going out and looking for something I want, over the heart of the plate and on time.

“Just the things I’ve always done. The thing that I haven’t done to translate in the big leagues is just let it be the same game. It can be the same with my preparation and all of that, but if every time the game’s hard or whatnot that I doubt, whether it could be the swing or something else, then that’s going to lead to not the process that I believe in, right? I believe in the things that I do, so continuing to do that through the ups and downs will be what is the precursor for success.”

Suwinski, 25, struggled at the start of the season for the Pirates, batting .174 with a .565 OPS, five doubles, four homers and 13 RBIs in 25 games. He batted .250/.276/.429 with seven doubles, one homer and two RBIs and 13 strikeouts against one walk in seven games at Indianapolis.

“I think just the consistency of it was one of the biggest things, just getting in there and remembering how I feel when I’m good and how that leads to it,” Suwinski said. “I’ve seen crazier things, so I didn’t put my own timeline on it just because I didn’t feel like that was necessary. But an opportunity like this, where Mike’s out and they need someone, I’m grateful and ready to go.”

Peguero, 23, batted .272/.341/.387 with 12 doubles, two triples, two homers and 34 RBIs — which ranked second on the team — in 51 games at Indianapolis. He spent 59 games with the Pirates last season, batting .237 with four doubles, seven homers and 26 RBIs. Shelton said Peguero’s time with the Pirates could be limited because of Taylor’s return, though he didn’t rule out a hot bat changing the team’s plans.

“It’s a good opportunity to get him up here,” Shelton said, “because at some point he’s gonna be up here during the season and help us.”

Heller, 32, has pitched in 50 major-league games over five seasons, four with the New York Yankees and spending last season with the Atlanta Braves before signing a minor-league deal with the Pirates. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound righty was 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA and 1.25 WHIP, 34 strikeouts against eight walks in 18 1/3 innings over 15 appearances this season in Triple-A.

“We like the stuff. We liked it when we acquired him this offseason,” Shelton said. “We really liked the stuff, and it’s not like we like it any less now. It’s just he got hurt. We thought he was a guy that was going to have a good opportunity to make our club out of spring training. He’s kind of gone through all the test points in Triple-A, in terms of multi-inning, back-to-back, pitching three of five, so it’s just another opportunity to add stuff that we like to our bullpen.”

To clear room on the active roster, the Pirates designated catcher Grant Koch for assignment. Koch went 0 for 7 with six strikeouts and one walk in three games last week after being promoted from the taxi squad when Joey Bart (thumb) was placed on the IL. Left-handed reliever Jose Hernandez was optioned to Indianapolis. The rehabilitation assignment for catcher Jason Delay ended, as he was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Indianapolis. Lefty starter Marco Gonzales was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.

Copyright ©2025— Trib Total Media, LLC (TribLIVE.com)