:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49024307/Tom-Harlan-2.0.0.jpg)
Piratesprospects.com is reporting (sub. req'd) that two of the Pirates' minor league pitchers, Tom Harlan and Nick Hibbing, have chosen to retire.
The Pirates drafted Harlan, a soft-tossing lefty, out of Fresno State in the 13th round in 2012. He made it to AA in mid-2014 and has pitched respectably there in a swing role. He had a 3.71 ERA and 1.27 WHIP in half a season in AA in 2014, intriguing the Pirates enough that they sent him to the Arizona Fall League that fall. Harlan spent the whole season in AA in 2015 and posted a 3.63 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. With Indianapolis likely loaded with pitching prospects and experienced depth guys this year, Harlan was facing a difficult path forward.
The Pirates selected Hibbing, a 6'6" righty, in the 16th round out of the University of Iowa last year. He put up a 1.70 ERA and 1.11 WHIP pitching in relief in the New York-Penn League. He was already 23 by the time the season ended.