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Roster takes two big hits

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates made two big roster moves on Monday involving players who were supposed to be a big part of the team’s potential success story for 2019.

First, the team moved starting pitcher Jameson Taillon from the 10-day injury list to the 60-day injury list, which doesn’t bode well for the team’s rotation for the near future. They also put infielder Jung Ho Kang on the 10-day injured list and selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Jake Elmore from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Taillon’s move from 10 days to 60 days cleared a space on the 40-man roster for Elmore. Kang has been struggling this season, batting just .133 with four home runs and eight RBIs. He has struck out 31 times and walked eight times in 90 at bats.

The 31-year-old Elmore hit .380 (41-for-108) with 12 doubles, two home runs, 16 RBI and a .990 OPS in 31 games with Triple-A Indianapolis this season after being acquired by the Pirates from the White Sox organization on March 27.

At the time of his promotion back to the big leagues today, Elmore ranked first in the International League in batting (.380), tied for second in doubles (12), fifth in OBP (.444) and sixth in OPS (.990).

This is Elmore’s second stint with the Pirates organization. He was claimed off waivers by Pittsburgh from Cincinnati on November 7, 2014, before being designated for assignment on January 20, 2015.

Elmore has a career average of .215 (90-for-418) with 15 doubles, four home runs and 33 RBI in 197 games in the big leagues between Arizona (2012), Houston (2013), Cincinnati (2014), Tampa Bay (2015) and Milwaukee (2016).

Additionally, left-handed pitcher Tyler Lyons has cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Indianapolis.

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