Pirates release former top-10 pick amid struggles with migraines

The Pirates released outfielder Travis Swaggerty, according to his transactions tracker at MLB.com. He was already removed from their roster when he was designated for assignment earlier this week, so this won’t impact their 40-man roster count.

The release appears to be a result of Swaggerty’s frustrating injury situation. Earlier this summer, he spoke to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about how he’s been dealing with migraines since November.

“It’s been crazy, and there’s been times I’ve been at the plate where it felt like I could barely see because I had a migraine or I was having that vertigo,” Swaggerty said.

Swaggerty has been placed on the minor league injured list a couple of times this year due to the issue, including on June 16. He started a rehab assignment on July 7 but played just one game and hasn’t returned to a lineup since. Players on the injured list can’t be placed on outright waivers, and Swaggerty doesn’t seem to have been formally activated from the IL, leaving the Pirates little choice but to release him.

Players in this situation will often sign new deals with the releasing clubs, but that’s no guarantee. Swaggerty will at least have the opportunity to peruse other offers. Prior to his setbacks this year, he was a prospect of note, selected in the first round of the 2018 draft with the 10th overall pick, but the pandemic wiped out the minor leagues in 2020. Then Swaggerty required shoulder surgery in 2021 after just 12 games.

After missing almost two whole years, he returned to the field last year and hit .254/.348/.399 in 107 Triple-A games. That was above-average production, but just barely, translating to a 102 wRC+. He also got into five major league games but struck out in four of his nine plate appearances and recorded just one hit, a single. Now this year’s migraine issues have prevented him from building off that healthy season, as he’s played just 22 minor league games this year.