Pirates Option Left-Hander Evan Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis

Evan Sisk gave Pittsburgh's front office plenty to consider this spring. Seven strikeouts over six Grapefruit League innings, just two runs allowed on three hits. The problem was six walks, and in the end that was enough for the Pirates to send the left-hander back to Triple-A Indianapolis on March 17, keeping him off the Opening Day roster.

The option formalizes what had already become a familiar commute for Sisk. Acquired last July 31 when Pittsburgh traded left-hander Bailey Falter to Kansas City for Sisk and first baseman Callan Moss, the 28-year-old spent much of the second half of 2025 shuttling between Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. The transaction log tells the story plainly: recalled August 15, optioned August 20, recalled August 29, optioned September 23, recalled September 29, activated October 1. Six roster moves in roughly seven weeks.

Despite the churn, Sisk was effective when he got big-league time. His 2025 MLB totals across 19 relief appearances with the Royals and Pirates show a 3.57 ERA, 25 strikeouts and 10 walks over 17.2 innings, with a 1.47 WHIP. At Triple-A Indianapolis, he logged 38 appearances with a 4.38 ERA, 42 strikeouts and a 1.65 WHIP over 37.0 innings.

Hunter Barco takes the roster spot Sisk vacated. The move continues a pattern that defined Pittsburgh's bullpen management through 2025: Sisk has been recalled to replace injured or unavailable pitchers, used heavily over short stretches and then sent back down when the roster math changed. One such sequence saw him pitch in four of five days before the Pirates optioned him to free up a spot for starter Johan Oviedo ahead of a scheduled start against the Blue Jays.

Sisk, a College of Charleston product drafted by St. Louis in the 16th round in 2018, did not reach the majors until April 15, 2025, his MLB debut coming with Pittsburgh after the trade from Kansas City. He now heads into the 2026 season as a depth piece with a clear path back to the big leagues the moment the Pirates need a left-handed arm out of the bullpen.

Given how frequently that need surfaced in 2025, Indianapolis may not be his final destination for long.