Veteran Presence: Tsutsugo, VanMeter and Newman All Join Indy on Rehabs

INDIANAPOLIS – The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that utilityman Josh VanMeter – a native of Ossian, Ind. – will join first baseman/outfielder Yoshi Tsutsugo and infielder Kevin Newman in Indianapolis on rehab assignments for the start of this week’s six-game series at Victory Field against Memphis. This will be Newman’s second rehab stint this season, as well as Tsutsugo and VanMeter’s first career appearances with the Indians.

VanMeter, 27, was placed on the 10-day injured list on June 3 (retroactive to June 2) with a left ring finger fracture. He appeared in 35 games with Pittsburgh prior to his injury and hit .214 (21-for-98) with six extra- base hits and 10 runs scored. He played in 17 games at Victory Field during his time with Triple-A Louisville in 2018-19 and owned a .318 average (28-for-88) in 28 total games vs. the Indians.

VanMeter was traded from Arizona to Pittsburgh on April 1, 2022 in exchange for RHP Listher Sosa. He was originally selected by San Diego in the fifth round (148th overall) of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Norwell High School, where he starred his senior year for the eventual 3A baseball state champions in a season that culminated at Victory Field.

Tsutsugo, 30, was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 26 (retroactive to May 25) with a lumbar muscle strain. He appeared in 35 games with the Pirates prior to his injury and hit .177 (20-for-113) with three doubles, two home runs and 15 RBI. This week will mark his first career appearance at Victory Field, with his only Triple-A action coming in 2021 with Oklahoma City.

The Hashimoto, Japan native was originally signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on Aug. 16, 2021 after being released by Los Angeles (NL). His career in Major League Baseball began when he was signed by Tampa Bay on Dec. 16, 2019.

Newman, 28, was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain on April 27 and was transferred to the 60-day injured list after hitting .250 (2-for-8) through three rehab games with the Indians from May 17-20. He appeared in 14 games with Pittsburgh prior to his injury and hit .250 (12-for-48) with five extra- base hits and eight RBI.

The Poway, Calif., native made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh in 2018 after hitting .302 (132-for-437) with 74 runs scored and 30 doubles in 109 games for Indy that season. In his career, he has appeared in 160 games with the Indians and owns a .293 batting average (188-for-641) with 102 runs scored, 44 doubles and 35 stolen bases.

Newman was originally selected by Pittsburgh as the 19th overall pick in the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Arizona. He made his major league debut on Aug. 16, 2018 vs. Chicago (NL).

Nine total major league rehabbers have been assigned to Indianapolis this season, along with outfielder Anthony Alford, and pitchers Heath Hembree, Sam Howard, Max Kranick, Nick Mears and Duane Underwood Jr.

_Indianapolis’ MLB rehab assignments are presented by Franciscan Health _