​The Pirates are once again turning to their farm system for help in the bullpen, as they prepare to recall two promising right-handed pitchers from Triple-A Indianapolis for their latest effort. Antwone Kelly and Thomas Harrington are set to rejoin the major league club after earning the call, a source confirmed to Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
Kelly, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the organization’s seventh-best prospect, made his major league debut on June 12 against the Miami Marlins. In that lone appearance, he worked 2.1 innings in relief and surrendered two runs before being optioned back to Indianapolis. This season at Triple-A, Kelly has appeared in 17 games, starting 12 of them, and has gone 4-5 with a 4.85 ERA. The 5-foot-10 right-hander has logged 68.2 innings, issued 33 walks, and recorded 54 strikeouts, with opponents batting .262 off him.
Harrington also finds himself being summoned back to the majors after contributing for Pittsburgh last season. He appeared three times, including one start, and went 0-1 with a 15.58 ERA and a save in those appearances. He has yet to pitch for the Pirates this season. In 20 appearances, six of which were starts, and spanning 58 innings with Indianapolis this year, Harrington has a 1-5 record and a 6.52 ERA. He has allowed 66 hits, walked 26, and struck out 56. His performances have kept him on the cusp of a big league call, as he continues to develop within the Pirates’ pitching pipeline.
The Pirates’ bullpen has been stretched to cover six innings in Thursday’s defeat to the Braves at PNC Park, underscoring the team’s need for reliable depth. For the season, Pittsburgh’s relievers have posted a 4.53 ERA, ranking 23rd in MLB and 12th in the National League, highlighting the ongoing challenge of stabilizing late-inning production.
As of now, there has been no official announcement regarding the corresponding roster moves required to accommodate Kelly and Harrington on the active roster. The timing and nature of those transactions will determine who moves off the roster or how the pitching staff is reorganized to integrate the two Indianapolis standouts.
This development comes as part of Pittsburgh Baseball Now’s coverage of Pirates roster moves and pitching prospects, offering fans insight into the team’s strategy for addressing bullpen depth and potential long-term impact from emerging arms like Kelly and Harrington. The Pirates continue to balance immediate MLB needs with the ongoing development of their farm system, hoping these promotions translate into improved results on the mound.