Formerly a prized Yankees prospect, Miguel Yajure looks for new life with Pirates

The eventual winners in the two trades the Pittsburgh Pirates made with the New York Yankees in 2021 won’t be determined for several years.

Will Hoy Park or Diego Castillo — acquired in July for relief pitcher Clay Holmes — one day turn into valuable infielders who could help the Pirates become playoff contenders?

Will Miguel Yajure and Roansy Contreras — two of the four prospects sacrificed by the Yankees in the trade for Jameson Taillon — eventually comprise 40% of the Pirates’ starting rotation?

Fans must be patient before they can get those answers.

Meanwhile, four of the six players will be among the 28 introduced to the crowd Tuesday at PNC Park for the home opener. First pitch (since it’s April 12) is scheduled for 4:12 p.m. The Pirates received a day off Monday when rain washed out the finale of their four-game season-opening series in St. Louis.

They left St. Louis on a positive note after rookies Yajure and Castillo played important roles Sunday in a 9-4 Pirates victory.

• Yajure, 23, threw two hitless, scoreless innings and got credit for the victory — his first in the majors — because starter Bryse Wilson only worked through the fourth.

• Castillo, 24, collected three hits in five at-bats in his first major-league start.

• Contreras, 21, is the Pirates’ No. 4 overall prospect — No. 1 pitcher — according to Baseball America. He was called up to the majors Saturday to replace Duane Underwood Jr., who is on the injured list with a hamstring injury.

• Park, 26, was the Pirates’ opening day second baseman and was 1 for 3. Last season, he played second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield positions.

Even though he was bait for acquiring Taillon, Yajure was well regarded by the Yankees, who signed him out of Venezuela with a $30,000 bonus in 2015, two months before his 17th birthday.

Getting traded was difficult for the Yankees’ 16th-ranked prospect, but he knows the Pirates gave up a solid veteran starting pitcher to get him. Taillon was 8-6 in 144 1/3 innings for the Yankees last season.”

“They wanted me,” Yajure told reporters in St. Louis on Sunday. “They trusted me, and I trust them, too.”

The Pirates were encouraged initially last year when he threw five scoreless innings to help defeat the San Francisco Giants on May 14.

But Yajure had a forearm injury part of the season, and the velocity on his four-seamer dropped from 92.3 mph to an average of 90.6. He ended the season allowing 12 hits and 10 runs over 5 2/3 innings in September.

In spring training this year, he had a lumbar spine injury and was inactive until throwing two innings April 2.

“Last year was sad because I had a lot of opportunities, but then the injuries kept coming,” he said in spring training. “I couldn’t take advantage of every one. That’s why my mindset this year is to be healthy all year.”

He trained in Tampa, Fla., in the offseason, working on his mechanics while getting stronger.

“Pitching-wise, I was concentrating on my release point so it’s the same every pitch,” he said. “My fastball is getting a little better. I’m getting more vertical break. I feel like I can use it more and with more confidence.”

He entered the game in the fourth inning Sunday and immediately caught manager Derek Shelton’s eye when he kept Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado in the infield.

“He was very composed. It was a tough situation,” Shelton said. “He came in and got the heart of their order. He executed pitches. His velocity played up. He used his breaking ball. Very impressive.”

Even through the injuries, Yajure believed he could pitch in the majors.

“I feel last year was good at the beginning because I showed to myself I could pitch and compete. Then the injuries happened,” he said. “This year, it will be the same every day. I’m trying to compete every day, attack hitters and throw strikes.”

He is pitching in relief now, but he was a starter in 65 of 72 games in the minors while compiling a 2.60 ERA.

Yajure said he talks regularly with Contreras and 24-year-old Max Kranick about pooling their talents to help the Pirates become contenders.

“We talk about it every day,” he said. “We help each other. We all want to help the team to win.”