Pirates Option Tyler Callihan, Jhostynxon Garcia to Triple-A Indianapolis

Jhostynxon Garcia put together one of the more impressive Grapefruit League performances in Pirates camp this spring, batting .405 with a .463 on-base percentage, two home runs, five RBIs and 15 hits across 17 games. It was not enough to crack the Opening Day roster. Pittsburgh optioned Garcia and utility man Tyler Callihan to Triple-A Indianapolis on March 21, reducing major league camp to 35 players.

Garcia, 23, arrived in Pittsburgh last December as part of the multi-player trade that sent starter Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox. He entered camp as the organization's No. 6 prospect on MLB.com and had earned top-100 consideration league-wide after slashing .271/.334/.498 with 18 home runs and 58 RBIs in 81 games at Triple-A Worcester in 2025. His brief taste of the majors last August went 1-for-7 with two walks and five strikeouts across five games for Boston, but his minor league track record made him a genuine roster candidate heading into Bradenton.

Despite working all three outfield positions and adding three stolen bases in 17 spring contests, Garcia ran out of room. Pittsburgh's projected Opening Day outfield features Bryan Reynolds, Oneil Cruz and free-agent signing Ryan O'Hearn, with Jake Mangum expected as the fourth outfielder. Marcell Ozuna occupies the designated hitter spot. That construction left Garcia without a defined role beyond potentially spelling a left-handed bat against southpaws, and the Pirates chose to give him regular at-bats in Indianapolis rather than a bench seat in Pittsburgh.

Callihan's path was shorter. The 25-year-old infielder and outfielder arrived in the organization only in early March, when Pittsburgh acquired him from Cincinnati in exchange for reliever Kyle Nicolas. Through nine spring appearances, Callihan hit .211 with one home run and two RBIs, and the Pirates used him primarily at third base while evaluating him for a utility bench role. His entire MLB résumé at the time of the move consisted of four games with the Reds in 2025, a 1-for-6 line with one RBI.

With both players now headed to Indianapolis, the notable remaining storyline inside major league camp belongs to 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin. With three spring games left on the schedule, Griffin is still among Pittsburgh's 35 campers despite batting .184, seven for 38, with a team-best four home runs. His .130 batting average on balls in play and 11 strikeouts against just two walks leave questions, but the organization has been clear about his long-term standing as the franchise's shortstop of the future. Whether he breaks camp with the big club or joins Garcia and Callihan in Indianapolis will be the central roster question Pittsburgh resolves before Opening Day.