Mears Returns on Rehab Assignment

INDIANAPOLIS – The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that the major league rehab assignment of right-handed relief pitcher Nick Mears has been transferred from Single-A Bradenton to Indianapolis, marking his second rehab stint with the Indians. There have been 13 total big leaguers assigned to rehab with the Indians on 15 separate stints this season, including infielders Josh VanMeter, Yoshi Tsutsugo and Kevin Newman, outfielders Anthony Alford, Ben Gamel, Jake Marisnick and Greg Allen, and pitchers Heath Hembree, Sam Howard, Max Kranick, Dillon Peters and Duane Underwood Jr alongside Mears.

Mears, 25, began the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in February and appeared with Indianapolis for six games on a rehab assignment from June 8-21 before being shut down. During his six outings, he surrendered five earned runs in 5.2 innings with six strikeouts.

After making his major league debut on Aug. 8, 2020 vs. Detroit, Mears split the 2021 season between Indianapolis and Pittsburgh. In 17 Triple-A appearances, he went 2-2 with a 5.30 ERA (11er/18.2ip) and 25 strikeouts. With the Pirates, he owns a career 5.08 ERA (16er/28.1ip) and 30 strikeouts in 34 appearances.

Mears was originally signed by Pittsburgh as a non-drafted free agent out of Sacramento (Calif.) Community College.

Indianapolis’ MLB rehab assignments are presented by Franciscan Health