Pirates send Jung Ho Kang to IL, call up Jake Elmore | TribLIVE.com
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Pirates send Jung Ho Kang to IL, call up Jake Elmore

Jerry DiPaola
| Monday, May 13, 2019 7:44 p.m.
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The Pirates’ Jung Ho Kang reacts after striking out in the eighth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on May 11, 2019 in St. Louis, Mo.

Jung Ho Kang’s recovery from his season-long slump must wait for at least 10 more days after he was placed on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ injured list with a left side strain.

The Pirates called up infielder/outfielder Jake Elmore from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday to replace Kang, who hasn’t started a game since May 8, has batted only three times since then and is hitless in his past 22 at-bats.

The Pirates were hoping Kang would add power to their lineup, knowing he had hit a total of 36 home runs during the 2015 and ’16 seasons. But he is batting .133 with four home runs and eight RBIs in his return to the majors after missing most of ’17 and ’18 with visa problems tied to three DUI arrests in his native South Korea.

Elmore, 31, is leading the International League with a .380 batting average (41 for 108), and has recorded 12 doubles, two home runs, 16 RBIs and a .990 OPS in 31 games with Indianapolis. The Pirates acquired him March 27 from the Chicago White Sox organization. He was with the Pirates briefly after the 2014 season when he was claimed off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds, but he was designated for assignment before the 2015 season.

In the majors, Elmore has a career average of .215 (90 for 418) with 15 doubles, four home runs and 33 RBIs in 197 games with Arizona (2012), Houston (2013), Cincinnati (2014), Tampa Bay (2015) and Milwaukee (2016).

To make room for Elmore, the Pirates transferred Jameson Taillon from the 10- to the 60-day injured list.

Also, relief pitcher Tyler Lyons cleared waivers and was sent to Indianapolis.


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