Hackers sign Yoshi Tsutsugo, nominate John Nogowski and Ka’ai Tom for assignment

The Pittsburgh Pirates officially signed Yoshi Tsutsugo to a major league contract and made the first active goalie / outfielder for Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

To make room for Tsutsugo’s roster, the Pirates on Monday named outfielder Ka’ai Tom and first baseman John Nogowski for assignment.

Tsutsugo hit .197 / .314 .395 with eight homers last season for the Tampa Bay Rays, but was traded to the Dodgers in mid-May and hit .120 before being optioned to Triple-A’s. Oklahoma City. The Dodgers have freed Tsutsugo so he can sign elsewhere. Pirates manager Derek Shelton has said Tsutsugo will see the game time at first base, left field and possibly right field.

Tom first returned from his rehab mission with Triple-A Indianapolis and reinstated the 10-day casualty list. A rule 5 draft pick that was claimed on waivers in April from the Oakland A’s, Tom, 27, hit .152 / .308 / .261 with two doubles, one triple, two homers and 11 RBIs in 39 matches with the Pirates. He spent two stints on the injured list, first with a contusion to his left wrist that left him sidelined for 10 days, then a lower back injury that required him to be absent since the July 3.

Nogowski was acquired in a St. Louis trade on July 5 for money considerations when first baseman Colin Moran was put on the injured list with a broken left wrist. Nogowski, 28, reduced .261 / .325 / .351 with seven doubles, a homerun and 14 RBIs in 33 games for the Pirates. Nogowski made a good first impression: in his first 12 games with the Pirates, Nogowski produced 0.438 (21 for 48); in his last 21 he’s hit .127 (8 for 63).

“I think with the fact that we got Colin back and he was playing early on and having signed Yoshi there, it just resulted in a lack of bats there,” said Shelton. “When you make moves and you do list moves, unfortunately he ended up being the victim.”