Zack

Collins

Collins was up for a pair of contests with Cleveland last week before being removed from the club’s 40-man roster following the addition of veteran backstop Eric Haase. The former top prospect went unclaimed on waivers and will head back to Triple-A Columbus as extra organizational depth.

Collins has been jettisoned from Cleveland’s 40-man roster to make room for newly-acquired veteran backstop Eric Haase. The 28-year-old backstop was only with the club for a handful of contests in place of an injured Cam Gallagher (concussion).

Collins gets the call back to the majors for the first time this season with back up catcher Cam Gallagher landing on the 7-day concussion injured list. The 28-year-old former first-round pick has posted an .801 OPS with 15 homers in 109 games this season in the minors.

Quinn and Collins will head to the minors as organizational position player depth after signing minor league contracts during the offseason.

Collins, the 10th overall selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, hasn’t lived up to those lofty expectations in the majors, batting just .185/.295/.327 with 11 homers across 459 career plate appearances since 2019. He split last season between the Blue Jays and Pirates, getting into 36 big-league contests. He’s a low-risk lottery ticket for the Guardians as organizational catching depth.

The 27-year-old backstop really struggled at the plate during his time at the big league level -- hitting a pitiful .155/.231/.320 with four homers, 11 RBI and a 41/9 K/BB ratio over 108 plate appearances between the Blue Jays and Pirates. He’s now free to sign any place he chooses.

Collins’ season is officially done after the landed on the 10-day injured list with an illness. Tyler Heineman was activated from the 7-day concussion injured list to take his place on the active roster. Collins hit .155/.231/.320 with four homers across 108 plate appearances.

The 27-year-old first baseman is getting the night off in favor of Zack Collins who will bat eighth for the Pirates against Luis Severino and the Yankees. Chavis has struggled overall on the season, slashing just .235/.269/.398 with 14 long balls and 49 RBI in 416 plate appearances.

Collins was claimed off waivers last week from the Blue Jays and will give the Pirates some emergency catching depth heading into Tuesday’s doubleheader against the Reds. There’s a strong possibility he’s up to catch pitching prospect Luis Ortiz when he makes his big-league debut in the second contest of the twin bill.

Collins was designated for assignment by Toronto on Monday and has now found a new home in the Pirates’ organization. The 27-year-old former first-round pick of the White Sox will be stationed at Triple-A Indianapolis for the time being. He has a career .195/.306/.347 batting line in the major leagues.