The Giants made a minor roster move Friday, claiming right-handed pitcher Miguel Yajure off waivers from the Pirates.
Yajure, 24, posted a 8.88 ERA in 12 games for Pittsburgh in 2022. He wasn’t much more effective at the Triple-A level, registering a 6.09 ERA. He pitched mostly in the minors as a starter but all but one of his big-league appearances came in relief.
According to Baseball Savant, Yajure’s arsenal includes a four-seam fastball, curveball, changeup, slider, cutter and sinker. It’s likely the Giants’ pitching coaches try to consolidate those options to find his most effective mix. Yajure’s curveball has been his most dangerous pitch, holding hitters to a .077 batting average. None of Yajure’s hard stuff has produced promising results; his fastball averages 92.9 mph.
The Venezuela native started his career with the Yankees, signing at 17 and debuting in 2020 at age 22. He was one of four prospects New York sent to Pittsburgh in 2021 in exchange for starter Jameson Taillon. That year, MLB.com ranked Yajure as the 25th best prospect in Pittsburgh’s system.