Welcome John Van Benschoten!

[Friday133]

Pirates will promote Van Benschoten to pitch Saturday

Thursday, June 14, 2007
By Dejan Kovacevic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Pirates will promote starter John Van Benschoten from Class AAA Indianapolis to pitch Saturday against the Chicago White Sox at PNC Park, manager Jim Tracy said this afternoon.

Shawn Chacon had been scheduled to pitch Saturday, but he will come out of the rotation beginning tonight against the Texas Rangers.

Tracy said the team will not clear space on the 25-man roster for Van Benschoten until Saturday. Van Benschoten, 26, was 6-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 12 starts for Indianapolis, striking out 45 and walking 30. The Pirates' first-round pick in the 2001 draft, he was in his first full season after surgery on both shoulders in 2004.

Post Gazette

Finally! Let's hope he can stay healthy and contribute.

[Witlon]

Yup yup, it's about time, I've been waiting for him to get an extended chance since he was drafted, and he's finally healthy and pitching well enough to get one.

I'm guess Kuwata is the guy that's going to be sent down to make room, which isn't much of a loss anyway.

[Friday133]

Send down Jack Wilson instead, although I know they would and could never do it.