Osuna signed a one-year contract with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of the NPB on Thursday, Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports.
Osuna was released by the Pirates on Tuesday after going unclaimed on waivers, and he'll be away from MLB for at least one season after finding an opportunity in Japan. The 27-year-old slashed .205/.244/.397 across 82 plate appearances in 2020.
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Jose Osuna: Released by Pirates
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Osuna was released by the Pirates on Tuesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Osuna went unclaimed on waivers after being designated for assignment Friday. He's expected to sign with a team in Asia, which could be a good fit for a player whose career .241/.280/.430 slash line in 705 career big-league plate appearances isn't terrible but isn't good enough for a corner infielder or outfielder at the highest level.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Designated for assigment
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Osuna was designated for assignment Friday.
Osuna is limited to the corners defensively but has not hit for enough power to profile down the defensive spectrum. He hit .205/.244/.397 in 82 plate appearances this past season.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Homers in consecutive games
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Osuna went 3-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 8-6 loss to Cleveland.
Osuna opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second inning. He added a solo shot in the fifth and also scored in the sixth on an Adam Frazier double. Osuna doubled his homer count to four over the final weekend of the season. He finished with 11 RBI, six runs scored and a .205/.244/.397 slash line in 82 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Goes deep in win
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Osuna went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a double in Saturday's 8-0 win over Cleveland.
Osuna hit his solo shot in the second inning off Cleveland starter Aaron Civale. He's up to three homers, nine RBI, four runs scored and a meager .176/.218/.324 slash line.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Sits after six straight starts
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Osuna is not in Thursday's lineup against the Cubs.
He had started six straight games, batting .188 with one home run over that stretch. The Pirates want to get prospect Jared Oliva regular playing time over the final week, and Oliva will be manning left field while batting seventh in this one.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Third start in four games
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Osuna will start in left field and will bat seventh Sunday against the Cardinals.
Osuna will pick up his third start in four games after going 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a walk Saturday in the Pirates' 5-4 loss. With Adam Frazier manning second base Sunday and likely to see the majority of his time at the position moving forward following Kevin Newman's (knee) move to the 10-day injured list, Osuna could end up seeing regular work in the outfield during the final week of the season.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Called up by Pirates
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Osuna was recalled by the Pirates on Thursday.
Osuna will claim a spot on the active roster after Cole Tucker (concussion) was placed on the 7-day injured list Thursday. Osuna wasn't able to generate much production during his time in the majors earlier this season as he slashed .148/.179/.222 with one home run and seven RBI over 56 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Optioned off roster
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Osuna was optioned to the Pirates' alternate training site Wednesday.
Osuna has accomplished very little at the plate this season, hitting .148/.179/.222 in 56 plate appearances. The transaction clears space for the Pirates to activate Bryan Reynolds off the paternity list.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Shifts to bench
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Osuna is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.
Osuna had made four starts in the previous five games, going 2-for-15 over that stretch. While he still doesn't have a path to an everyday role, Osuna's playing-time outlook may have improved in the short term after the Pirates placed Bryan Reynolds on the paternity list Sunday.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Gets nod against Indians
Rotowire
Osuna will make a rare start in left field and bat fifth against Cleveland on Thursday.
The 28-year-old played left field twice in 95 appearances in 2019. He went 1-for-3 on Wednesday in his first start since Aug. 3. Surprisingly, the right-handed hitter did better against righties (.849 OPS) than lefties (.612 OPS) last season.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Rejoins major-league club
Rotowire
Osuna was recalled from the alternate training site Sunday.
The 27-year-old was demoted earlier in the week but will return to the active roster with Phillip Evans (concussion/jaw) heading to the injured list. Osuna was 3-for-19 in six games before being sent down and could see occasional starts between first base, right field and designated hitter.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Optioned to alternate site
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Osuna was optioned to the Pirates' alternate training site following Wednesday's loss to the Twins, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Pittburgh needed to trim its roster to 28 players by Thursday's roster deadline, and Osuna is being demoted as a result. The 27-year-old began the season 3-for-8 over the first two games, but he's 0-for-11 in his last five appearances.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Not starting Tuesday
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Osuna is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.
Osuna started three of the first four games of the season for the Pirates but has since gone on to start just two of the last seven. He has just three hits on the season, the most recent of which came in the third game of the year.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Not in lineup again
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Osuna isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.
Osuna will be excluded from the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive night Saturday after he appeared in three of the team's first four games of the season. With Colin Moran sliding to the designated hitter spot, Phillip Evans will take over at the hot corner, batting seventh.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Sits for third straight
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Osuna will sit Friday against the Cubs.
Osuna started two of the first three games this season, seeing action at designated hitter and in right field, but he's since been on the bench for three straight contests. Cole Tucker starts in right field for the third time this season Friday.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Not starting Wednesday
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Osuna will hit the bench Wednesday against the Brewers.
Osuna started all of the Pirates' first three games but has now been on the bench for two straight. Gregory Polanco starts in right field, while Josh Bell rests his legs as the designated hitter.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Ready for outfield duty
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Osuna will start in right field and bat sixth Sunday in St. Louis.
He went 2-for-4 with a double Friday, scoring a pair of runs. Osuna has faced Cardinals starter Dakota Hudson only one time, collecting an RBI single. While Osuna is not a plus-defender in the outfield, he could earn added playing time if he shows a strong bat, especially with Gregory Polanco (illness) out for another week or so.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Drills home run in win
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Osuna went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 5-1 win over the Cardinals.
Osuna started the game in right field after getting Saturday off, and he made it count. The 27-year-old slugged a two-run shot off starter Dakota Hudson in the fourth inning to give the Pirates the lead. Even when Gregory Polanco (illness) returns, Osuna should find somewhat regular playing time at first base and DH.
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Pirates' Jose Osuna: Will be in Saturday's lineup
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Osuna will bat fifth and serve as the designated hitter Saturday against Cleveland.
The 27-year-old hit 10 homers in 285 plate appearances last season, with six of the long balls coming off the bench. Osuna batted .317 through mid-August mostly as a reserve player, but slumped to .217 in 35 starts from Aug. 20 to season's end. There's little question that 2020 represents a huge opportunity for Osuna. He's the team's best defender at first base and should see more action with the addition of the designated hitter.
