The Pittsburgh Pirates are taking another swing on versatility and upside. They’re bringing back switch-hitting utility man Ronny Simon on a minor league deal after non-tendering him to clear a 40-man roster spot.
This move blends roster flexibility, offensive potential, and a second chance for a player who’s already bounced through multiple organizations and positions before turning 26.
Pirates Re-Sign Ronny Simon After Non-Tender Decision
The Pirates non-tendered Ronny Simon to open a spot on their 40-man roster, then quickly re-signed him to a minor league contract. It’s a pretty common roster move, but it shows Pittsburgh still sees something in Simon’s skill set—even if they weren’t ready to protect him on the roster just yet.
By bringing him back on a minor league pact, the Pirates keep him in the system without needing to stash him on the big-league roster. That’s a low-risk, potentially useful depth play for a club still figuring out its core at the major league level.
Why the Non-Tender and Re-Sign Approach Makes Sense
Non-tendering Simon let the Pirates remove him from the 40-man roster without losing him entirely, as long as they could work out a new deal. Once he cleared that hurdle, a minor league contract—probably with a Spring Training invite—gave both sides a compromise.
Simon keeps a path to the majors, and Pittsburgh gets a little extra flexibility. For a club in transition, this move creates layers of depth and ensures coverage in the outfield and at DH, without blocking higher-ceiling prospects who might arrive in 2025 or later.
Ronny Simon’s Journey Through Five Organizations
Simon’s career path has already been unusually winding for a 25-year-old. He’s been part of five different organizations, which says a lot about how teams view him as a useful piece—even if he hasn’t totally broken through at the MLB level yet.
He originally signed with the Chicago Cubs, then moved to the Arizona Diamondbacks in a trade. After that, he landed with the Tampa Bay Rays, who always seem to find value in versatile players.
He eventually reached the big leagues with the Miami Marlins. The Pirates then grabbed him off waivers.
From Prospective Infielder to Versatile Role Player
Simon started out as an infielder, but his defensive home has shifted as his career’s gone on. Clubs have kept trying to unlock his value by moving him around, testing his adaptability while trying to keep his bat in the lineup.
That willingness to move—from second base to the corner outfield, and now into designated hitter reps with Pittsburgh—has kept him on radars even as his defensive profile drifts away from the middle infield.
MLB Growing Pains and a Tough Night in Miami
Simon made his MLB debut last season with the Miami Marlins, appearing in 19 games. Like a lot of young players, his first taste of the big leagues was a mix of opportunity and some hard lessons.
The toughest moment came in a game where he committed three errors at second base. That rough outing helped pave the way to his designation for assignment.
Claimed by Pittsburgh and a Strong Triple-A Response
After that stretch in Miami, the Pirates claimed Simon off waivers and sent him to Triple-A. He wasted no time reestablishing his value, posting a .284/.381/.436 line in 248 plate appearances and showing both on-base skills and gap power.
That production earned him a call-up in mid-August, and he made eight appearances with the Pirates before a dislocated left shoulder abruptly ended his season.
Triple-A Track Record and Offensive Profile
Despite uneven big league results so far, Simon’s work in the upper minors paints a more encouraging picture. Across nearly 1,000 plate appearances at Triple-A, he owns a strong .287/.371/.436 batting line.
That level of production over a meaningful sample size suggests he’s more than just organizational filler. If he can translate it, he might provide competitive at-bats and occasional pop in the majors.
Switch-Hitting, Size, and Positional Fit
Standing 5’8” and swinging from both sides of the plate, Simon profiles as a compact, athletic switch-hitter who can lengthen a lineup and offer matchup flexibility. With Pittsburgh, he’s been used more in the corner outfield and at designated hitter, roles that put the focus squarely on his offense.
In today’s game, where benches are shorter and versatility matters, a switch-hitter who can move between the outfield and DH has real value—especially for a team still piecing together its long-term roster.
What Comes Next: Spring Training and Roster Battle
The next step? A non-roster invitation to Spring Training. Simon will get a shot to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster or maybe end up as one of the first call-ups from Triple-A.
For the Pirates, this move feels like a smart mix of low risk and possible reward. For Simon, it’s another chance to show that his Triple-A bat can actually make some noise in Pittsburgh — and maybe, just maybe, that his journey through five organizations isn’t finished yet.
Here is the source article for this story: Pirates Re-Sign Ronny Simon To Minor League Deal
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