Brewers' Jared Oliva: Nets spring invite from Milwaukee
Rotowire
The Brewers signed Oliva to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
Oliva spent the 2024 season at Double-A Arkansas in the Mariners organization, posting an .841 OPS with seven homers and 37 stolen bases. Slated to turn 29 later this week, Oliva last appeared in the majors in 2021 with the Pirates.
... See More... See Less
Angels' Jared Oliva: Scooped by Halos
Rotowire
The Angels selected Oliva in the second round of the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft last week, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old outfielder was once a promising outfield prospect in the Pittsburgh system, but the Pirates booted him off the 40-man roster last March after he struggled mightily at the dish during his abbreviated stints at the big-league level in 2020 and 2021. He played exclusively at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2022, slashing .266/.324/.429 with eight home runs and 21 stolen bases across 349 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Loses roster spot
Rotowire
Oliva was designated for assignment Thursday.
Oliva had already been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, though he's now lost his grip on a 40-man roster spot. Once a relatively well-regarded prospect, Oliva posted only a .249/.321/.364 line across 249 plate appearances with Indianapolis in 2021. The move makes room for Josh VanMeter, who was acquired by the Pirates on Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Beginning season in Triple-A
Rotowire
Oliva was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Oliva was a long shot to make the Opening Day roster with Bryan Reynolds and Ben Gamel locked into playing time and Anthony Alford out of minor-league options. Though he'll begin the season in the minors, Oliva could become an option for the big-league club if injuries, trades or poor performance occur among any of the team's outfield options.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Oliva was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Oliva shifted to a bench role recently, and he had started just two games since the All-Star break. In nine appearances during that time, the 25-year-old went 3-for-13 with two runs and an RBI. He should see more consistent playing time in the minors, while Hoy Park will take his place on the active roster.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Moves into bench role
Rotowire
Oliva is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Oliva had started in four of the Pirates' final six games before the All-Star break, but he's been on the bench for three straight contests to kick off the second half. The 25-year-old looks like he'll be limited to a depth role in the outfield now that Gregory Polanco (hip) is healthy again.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Swipes bag Friday
Rotowire
Oliva went 1-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 13-4 loss to the Mets.
Oliva doubled, stole third and scored on an Adam Frazier single in the fifth inning. With Gregory Polanco (hip) and Ka'ai Tom (back) on the injured list, Oliva has seen semi-consistent playing time in July. He's hitting just .125 with two doubles, an RBI, a run scored and steal while striking out eight times in 26 plate appearances so far, all of which have come this month.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Gets another outfield start
Rotowire
Oliva went 0-for-2 with a walk in Sunday's 2-0 win over Milwaukee.
With Gregory Polanco nursing an injury, Oliva started all three weekend games in right field. He went 1-for-11 with his first RBI while striking out six times. While the 26-year-old wasn't particularly impressive, he could see regular playing time if injuries strike any of the three outfield starters ahead of him.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Making up for lost time
Rotowire
Oliva is 4-for-20 with one stolen base since making his season debut for Triple-A Indianapolis on June 12.
While an oblique injury in April cost him the first two months of 2021, he still has a chance to salvage his season. Pittsburgh has struggled to find consistency in left field and Oliva figures to receive a big-league audition this summer -- provided he showcases the skills that made him a prospect in the first place. Oliva holds a minor-league slash line of .273/.347/.399 with 15 homers and 85 stolen bases in little over three seasons.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Expected back in June
Rotowire
Oliva (oblique) is expected to begin full baseball activities in 4-to-6 weeks, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports
The outfielder has yet to appear in a game this year after beginning the season in Florida working on his offense before joining Pittsburgh's taxi squad a couple weeks ago. Oliva recorded three hits in 16 at-bats as a rookie in 2020.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Out with oblique strain
Rotowire
Oliva is dealing with a left oblique strain and will be out of action for four weeks, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.
Oliva had at least an outside shot to crack the Opening Day roster, but it now looks as though his season debut won't come for quite a while. Once he gets healthy, he'll still have to prove himself at the Triple-A level before pushing for a spot on the active roster. He won't get the chance to start that process until late May at the soonest.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Joining taxi squad
Rotowire
Oliva is at the Pirates' alternate training site and will be on the taxi squad for the upcoming road trip that begins Friday in Milwaukee, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Oliva and Cole Tucker were kept in extended spring training rather than heading straight to the alternate site to work on offensive skill development. The Pirates have gotten very little from Anthony Alford and Dustin Fowler in center field, so Oliva could soon get a chance to make a run at that job.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Working on 'skill development'
Rotowire
Oliva is in Florida for "skill development," according to manager Derek Shelton, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
He was surprisingly left off the initial roster for the Pirates' alternate training site, and it sounds like the Pirates felt Oliva would benefit more from the environment at extended spring training in the short term. Per Shelton, Oliva is expected to eventually head to the alternate site.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Not sent to alt. site
Rotowire
Oliva was not included on the Pirates' alternate site roster, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
This was a surprising omission, as Oliva is reportedly healthy and reached the majors last season. Brian Goodwin, Hunter Owen, Chris Sharpe, Troy Stokes, Travis Swaggerty are the outfielders who made the roster.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Puts injury in past
Rotowire
Oliva (back) is in the lineup for Sunday's exhibition game against the Orioles.
Oliva's sore back has kept him off the field since last Sunday, but he has recovered from the injury and is ready to resume playing. He will man right field and hit ninth in his return.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Tending to back injury
Rotowire
The Pirates scratched Oliva from the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game due to lower-back tightness.
Travis Swaggerty will check into the lineup in Oliva's stead, batting ninth and manning center field. The injury is considered a day-to-day concern, so Oliva could be ready to return to action within the next few days.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Sitting out season finale
Rotowire
Oliva is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Indians.
Oliva looked like he might be a regular in the lineup over the final week of the season, but he'll wrap up the campaign with back-to-back trips to the bench. The 24-year-old outfielder, who has recorded three hits in his first 16 at-bats in the big leagues, may begin the 2021 campaign at Triple-A Indianapolis.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Not in lineup Saturday
Rotowire
Oliva isn't starting Saturday against Cleveland.
Oliva started the last four games for the Pirates and recorded hits in both of the last two. However, Jose Osuna will start in left field for the penultimate game of the regular season.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Swipes a bag in loss
Rotowire
Oliva went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Indians.
Oliva got his first hit of the game on a single in the ninth inning and stole second easily with the Indians much more focused on getting the batter out to end the inning. The 24-year-old has three hits and the one stolen base in five games since being called up Monday.
... See More... See Less
Pirates' Jared Oliva: Set for first MLB start
Rotowire
Oliva is starting in left field and batting ninth Tuesday against the Cubs.
One of the Pirates' top prospects, Oliva figured to reach the majors this year under normal circumstances, but his ETA seemed more up in the air in a shortened season. The Pirates' outfield depth has been tested this year, which contributed to Oliva getting the call Monday. He appeared off the bench in that game, going 0-for-1 with a strikeout, and this will mark his first big-league start. A well-rounded player, Oliva's top trait is his aptitude on the bases, where he used plus speed to average 34.5 steals (79.3% success rate) per season from 2018 to 2019.
