The Pirates announced that outfielder Troy Stokes Jr. has been claimed off waivers from the Tigers. Stokes was designated for assignment by Detroit earlier this week. To create roster space, Pittsburgh has designated left-hander Nik Turley for assignment.
The Tigers claimed Stokes off waivers from the Brewers in September 2019, and the outfielder will end his Detroit tenure without suiting up a single time for any team in the organization, thanks to the cancellation of the minor league season and a broken hamate bone in July that ended his 2020 campaign before it even began.
Stokes has yet to appear in a Major League game, but he should get some opportunity on a rebuilding Pirates team. Stokes has hit .250/.351/.414 over 2355 plate appearances in Milwaukee’s farm system, with an impressive 129-for-159 record in stealing bases. While he has experience at all three outfield positions, the large majority of Stokes’ playing time has come as a left fielder.
Turley tossed 21 2/3 innings for the Pirates in 2020, posting a 4.98 ERA, 21.7 K%, and 9.8 K-BB%. Turley’s only previous MLB experience consisted of 17 2/3 innings with the 2017 Twins, but his career was interrupted by an 80-game PED suspension and then elbow problems. Turley started 139 of 176 games during his minor league career, posting a 3.43 ERA over 787 2/3 innings mostly in the Yankees’ farm system, but also seeing time with the Red Sox, Giants, and Twins.