PITTSBURGH -- The back end of the Pirates' bullpen returned to full strength on Saturday, as Pittsburgh recalled right-hander Jared Hughes from the disabled list.
Hughes joined the club at PNC Park on Friday, and the Bucs activated him before Saturday's game against the Reds. Hughes had been sidelined since March 16 due to a strained left lat, which required a longer-than-expected recovery process.
"I'm healthy, which is huge," Hughes said. "I'm so happy to be pain-free, firing on all cylinders, feeling good."
For the past few years, Hughes has been the Pirates' ground-ball specialist, a rare breed capable of defusing jams with one pitch.