PITTSBURGH (AP) -John Van Benschoten, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ first-round draft pick in 2001, will be promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Saturday against the Chicago White Sox.
Right-hander Shawn Chacon (2-1, 4.25 ERA) will come out of the rotation, but Pirates manager Jim Tracy said no roster move to clear a spot for Van Benschoten will be made until Saturday.
Pittsburgh is carrying 13 pitchers, including eight relievers, but closer Matt Capps faces a four-game suspension for hitting Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder with a pitch.
With the Pirates getting little production from three of their five starters, Van Benschoten and former No. 1 draft pick Bryan Bullington were under consideration for a callup. But Bullington (9-3, 2.83 ERA at Indianapolis) was lifted in the first inning of a start Sunday with shoulder discomfort and won’t pitch in a weekend series against Durham.
The 26-year-old Van Benschoten was 6-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 12 starts at Indianapolis, striking out 45 and walking 30. He made his major league debut with the Pirates in 2003, going 1-3 with a 6.91 ERA in six games.
The right-handed Van Benschoten later needed operations on both shoulders, one to repair a torn labrum, and has spent much of the time since then in rehabilitation.
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