Pirates call up Jacob Stallings, option Jason Rogers

The Pirates have selected the contract of Indianapolis catcher Jacob Stallings and optioned Jason Rogers to AAA.  Stallings had to be added to the 40-man roster, but nobody had to be dropped immediately because Juan Nicasio is on the restricted list.  Unless Nicasio's absence is long-term, some roster move will have to be made soon.

Stallings has good receiving and throwing skills; so far this year he's thrown out 33% of base stealers.  His bat is another matter, as he's hitting only 199/242/340 this year and 237/321/355 for his minor league career.  The move was necessitated by injuries that put Francisco Cervelli and Elias Diaz on the shelf, and several minor injuries that have left Chris Stewart unavailable.

Rogers was in his second stint in the majors with the Pirates this year.  He hasn't shown the bat that he did in the Brewers' organization.  In limited time with the Pirates, he's gone 1-for-14 with seven strikeouts.  In AAA he's posted a pedestrian (for a corner bat) 286/346/429 line, which is weaker than his line last year in the majors with Milwaukee.  He's also had a much higher K rate at Indianapolis than he's had previously in the minors.