Pirates Bring Back Right-Handed Pitcher to a Minor League Contract : Can He Bounce Back from Major Knee Injury?
The Pittsburgh Pirates continue to make moves this offseason as they focus on building their roster for the 2024 season. On December 2, the team re-signed right-handed pitcher Hunter Stratton to a minor league contract, as reported by the MLB Transactions page. This decision comes after Stratton elected free agency on November 22, signaling the Pirates’ commitment to keeping the versatile reliever in their system as he works his way back from a significant injury.
Hunter Stratton’s 2024 Setback: A Tough Injury
Stratton’s 2024 season took a heartbreaking turn on August 24 during a game against the Cincinnati Reds. While pitching in relief, Stratton threw a wild pitch in the fourth inning that catcher Joey Bart couldn’t handle. As the ball rolled away from the plate, Stratton sprinted to cover home and attempt a tag out on Reds’ second baseman Jonathan India, who was attempting to steal home.
Unfortunately, Stratton’s chase ended in disaster. As he ran behind the plate to retrieve the ball, he slipped in the dirt and collapsed to the ground in excruciating pain, clutching his left knee. The Pirates later announced that Stratton had ruptured his left patella tendon, a serious injury that required placing him on the 60-day Injured List, officially ending his season.
The patella tendon is crucial for knee movement, and a rupture can significantly impact a player’s mobility. The injury often results in difficulty walking and extending the knee, a setback that can take considerable time to heal. According to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf, the recovery timeline for this kind of injury typically ranges from seven to ten months, meaning Stratton could be back in action as early as late March or as late as June, depending on his recovery progress.
A Solid 2024 Campaign Before the Injury
Despite the unfortunate injury, Stratton’s 2024 season had been an impressive one. In 36 games out of the bullpen, the 27-year-old posted a solid 2-1 record with a 3.58 ERA in 37.2 innings pitched. He also struck out 33 batters while walking just seven, showing good control and reliability in high-leverage situations. Stratton was an important piece of the Pirates’ bullpen and looked poised to be a significant contributor moving forward.
A Long Road Ahead
Hunter Stratton’s road to recovery will be long, but his past performance indicates that when he does return, he could be a key asset for the Pirates. The 16th-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Stratton spent several seasons in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut in September 2023. He pitched in eight games for the Pirates that season, logging a 2.25 ERA in 12 innings and striking out 10 while issuing just three walks.
The Pirates clearly believe in Stratton’s potential, re-signing him to a minor league deal as he works to get healthy. His solid numbers before the injury suggest that, once fully recovered, he could reclaim his spot in the bullpen and play an important role in the team’s future plans. The decision to keep him in the system also highlights Pittsburgh’s commitment to developing homegrown talent, a key focus for the team as they continue their rebuilding efforts.
Adding Depth to the Farm System
Stratton is not the only reliever the Pirates have recently brought back into the fold. On November 18, the team re-signed Isaac Mattson to a minor league deal, further bolstering their pitching depth in the minors. While Mattson’s impact has been more limited than Stratton’s, adding these kinds of arms to the system provides the Pirates with more options as they look to compete in 2024 and beyond.
What’s Next for the Pirates?
As the offseason continues, the Pirates’ roster is beginning to take shape. The re-signing of Stratton and Mattson provides a sense of continuity in a bullpen that showed promise last season, even if Pittsburgh’s overall performance was inconsistent. With Stratton, in particular, the team is betting on a bounce-back year once he’s fully recovered, and if he returns to form, the Pirates could have a strong arm in the middle of their bullpen for years to come.
For Stratton, the next few months will be crucial as he works to recover from the knee injury and prove that he can regain his form. If all goes well, the Pirates’ investment in his future could pay off, and Stratton may be a key part of their pitching staff for the 2024 season and beyond.
