PITTSBURGH (AP) The Pittsburgh Pirates demoted outfielder Austin Meadows to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday and recalled right-handed reliever Tanner Anderson.
The 23-year-old Meadows was the team’s first-round pick in the 2013 draft. He hit .298 in 48 games with Pittsburgh, but he has lost playing time to Corey Dickerson and Gregory Polanco. In July, Meadows hit .233 as his playing opportunities declined.
”I’m really excited about what he did, especially that first week,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. ”The last month hasn’t been as productive, and it’s tough to ask a young player to not play. It’s in his best interests and our best interests to let him grow and develop.”
Huntington rebuffed the suggestion that Meadows’ demotion was related to the possibility that he could qualify for salary arbitration early by gaining Super Two status. The general manager called such projetions ”inexact.”
The 25-year-old Anderson had a 2.17 ERA in 27 games with Indianapolis and will provide bullpen depth after Saturday’s doubleheader against the Brewers.
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