The Pirates released Escobar on June 9.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar was one of seven players from the Triple-A Indianapolis roster that was part of the Pirates' mass minor-league cuts. The right-hander made four relief appearances for the big club in 2019, giving up five earned runs over 5.2 innings.

Escobar was reassigned to the Pirates' minor-league camp Monday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar began the spring in major-league camp after making his debut in the big leagues last season, but he'll need to develop more in the minors before returning to the Pirates' bullpen. The right-hander struggled in his limited major-league action last year, but he was more effective at the Triple-A level, posting a 4.09 ERA with a 57:32 K:BB over 55 innings in 2019.

Escobar was outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday, Nubyjas Wilborn of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Escobar was designated for assignment last week, but he will now be outrighted to Triple-A after posting a 7.94 ERA over 5.2 innings in his first major-league action. The 23-year-old has been slightly more successful in the minors, but he'll likely require more time before gaining a consistent role in a major-league bullpen.

Escobar was designated for assignment Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

The Pirates needed to clear some 40-man roster spots for players they wanted to protect from the Rule 5 draft, and Escobar was a casualty. The 23-year-old righty got a brief audition in the big-league bullpen but gave up five earned runs in 5.2 innings.

The Pirates optioned Escobar to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pittsburgh will ship out Escobar to the farm after he was blitzed for five runs on five hits and four walks over two innings of relief in Wednesday's 14-8 loss to the Cardinals. Alex McRae was summoned from Triple-A to fill Escobar's spot on the active roster and in the Pittsburgh bullpen.

Escobar was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

The 23-year-old didn't have much of a reputation prior to this season, as he'd topped out at Double-A Altoona, where he'd posted a 4.54 ERA and a 15.9 percent strikeout rate in seven starts. Pitching mostly out of the bullpen this year, his numbers have been almost unrecognizable. In 49.2 frames split between Indianapolis and High-A Bradenton, he owns a 1.99 ERA and a 27.7 percent strikeout rate, though his 4.26 FIP and 12.6 percent walk rate provide reasons not to get too excited.

Escobar will open the year at High-A Bradenton, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was reported early in spring training that he was optioned to Triple-A, but he will instead head back to High-A, were he logged a 3.98 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 85:38 K:BB in 92.2 innings last year. He will likely spend most of the year at Double-A, where he logged a 4.54 ERA and 25:21 K:BB in 35.2 innings in 2018.

The Pirates optioned Escobar to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Considering Escobar hasn't pitched above the Double-A level, he wasn't a serious candidate to win an Opening Day role with the Pirates. He'll likely occupy a spot in the Indianapolis rotation throughout 2019 after turning in a 4.24 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 128.1 innings between Double-A Altoona and High-A Bradenton a season ago.

Escobar was suspended by the Pirates on Sunday for a violation of club policies, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic Pittsburgh reports.

EDGE Analysis

The nature of the violation is not clear, but it appears that Escobar has been suspended for the rest of the season. The 22-year-old has a 4.54 ERA in seven starts for Double-A Altoona this season.

Escobar will open the 2018 season at High-A Bradenton.

EDGE Analysis

The Pirates optioned some minor leaguers from big-league camp on Friday, with Escobar being among them. Despite not having pitched above Low-A, the Pirates added Escobar to the 40-man roster earlier this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, which illustrates how much they value him. Improving his command and secondary pitches will be critical if he hopes to remain a starter. If he scuffles, the Pirates may be tempted to fast-track him as a reliever, as he is taking up a 40-man roster spot and might be two or three years away from being ready to start in the majors.