HARRISBURG - Miles Durham, who spent parts of four seasons with the Curve, including 2012, was released by the Pirates organization Thursday.
The 28-year-old Durham was drafted by Pittsburgh in the 22nd round of the 2006 MLB draft, and the utility outfielder/infielder spent his entire professional career in the Pirates organization until his release.
"[Durham] is every manager's dream," Curve manager P.J. Forbes said. "The way he goes about it, [he's] professional. It's tough [to tell someone they're released]. It's the worst job a manager has, especially when it's a guy like him."
This year, Durham hit .259 (which is also his career average) with two homers and 14 RBIs in 40 games with the Curve since being called down from Triple-A Indianapolis in mid May.
In 2010, when the Curve won the Eastern League title, Durham had his most productive campaign in Altoona. Two seasons ago, Durham was the primary right fielder for the Curve and he drove in 69 runs, while hitting .259 in 136 appearances.
"He's one of those guys, no matter in terms of how he's playing offensively, he's going to give you everything he's got," said pitcher Mike Colla, Durham's teammate in 2010. "You here the cliche 110 percent, well he legitimately is that guy. He's a guy who is going to break through an outfield wall if he needs to or body up on a groundball."
Durham did have his chances in Triple-A as he spent time with Indianapolis in 2011 and started there this season, however he never got it going at the next level.
Last year, Durham was called up to Indianapolis at the end of May and hit .233 with two home runs and 24 RBIs in 74 games. This year, Durham managed just six hits in 42 at-bats (.143) and played in 19 games before being called down to Altoona.
The releasing of Durham clears a roster spot for utility man Oscar Tejeda who the Pirates acquired off waivers on Wednesday and was officially assigned to Altoona on Thursday.
Tejeda, a 22-year-old who was previously in Boston's organization, appeared in left field and at designated hitter for Double-A Portland in 51 games this season. He hit .262 with five home runs and 31 RBIs in 202 at-bats.
In other Curve transaction news, pitcher Kris Johnson was promoted back to Indianapolis after spending just a day on the Curve's roster, and pitcher Kyle Cofield was activated off the disabled list. Cofield pitched Thursday against Harrisburg and struck out two and allowed two runs - one earned - on one hit in of an inning.
