Pirates Demote Two Players in Latest Roster Move

The Pittsburgh Pirates made a four-player roster shuffle Sunday ahead of their series finale against the Boston Red Sox, bringing former first-round pick Nick Yorke back to the majors.

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Pittsburgh recalled Yorke and left-hander Hunter Barco while optioning infielder Jack Brannigan and right-hander Wilber Dotel to Triple-A Indianapolis. Yorke immediately entered the lineup at third base against his former organization.

The move gives the Pirates another offensive option as they continue managing a roster affected by recent pitching changes and injuries. Yorke’s return also creates an intriguing matchup after Boston selected him in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft.

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/ZounpcIOkf

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 16, 2026

Yorke’s promotion comes after a productive stretch with Indianapolis, where he continued to build momentum at the plate. He was placed seventh in Pittsburgh’s lineup Sunday and started at third base.

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Dotel, meanwhile, heads back to Triple-A after posting a 4.71 ERA across 28 2/3 innings in the majors this season. Brannigan also returns to Indianapolis after spending only three days with Pittsburgh following his latest promotion.

The roster changes come as Pittsburgh continues to navigate its pitching plans. The Pirates recently pushed Paul Skenes’ next start to Wednesday, giving the right-hander additional recovery time while Lake Bachar takes the ball against Boston.

The Pirates entered Sunday at 60-65, sitting last in the National League Central and 16.5 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers. With the division race largely out of reach, Pittsburgh’s focus is increasingly on evaluating its depth and finding useful pieces for the remainder of the season.

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This story was originally published August 16, 2026 at 11:06 AM.