Pirates bring up switch-hitting outfielder Ronny Simon, selecting him to the MLB roster

The Pittsburgh Pirates are expected to select outfielder Ronny Simon to their MLB roster, a transaction report says. The move brings up a switch-hitting bat with a speed component, with Pittsburgh set to activate him by clearing roster space on both the active list and the 40-man roster.

Simon’s profile, as described in the reporting, centers on production and baserunning at the Triple-A level. He has been hitting well and also contributing on the basepaths, which is the kind of two-way value teams often prioritize late in the summer when lineups need flexible options and the bench must carry more leverage.

For Pittsburgh, the timing matters because adding a player to the 40-man roster is not just about making room on game day. The Pirates must also manage their roster construction beyond the next start or pinch-hitting appearance, since selecting a player generally comes with corresponding moves to keep the 40-man number within league limits.

As a switch-hitter, Simon offers lineup versatility, at least in theory. That matters for managers who want additional matchups against starting pitchers, particularly when the Pirates are trying to get more consistent at-bats from beyond the regular everyday group in the outfield and at the bottom of the batting order.

The practical question now becomes how Pittsburgh intends to use him once he is officially active. Whether Simon gets early time as a pinch-runner, works into late-inning defensive assignments, or earns a steadier bench role will shape what the move accomplishes for the Pirates in the short term.

What to watch next is confirmation from the Pirates and the specific roster moves required to make the selection possible. Those details will clarify who is being moved off the active and/or 40-man rosters to open the spot, and it will also report the Pirates’ plan for Simon’s first series and role in the outfield mix.