The Pittsburgh Pirates acquire right-hander Rowland from Arizonia Diamondbacks

As a prospect, the road to the majors isn’t always a straight road. For most players there are bumps, detours and turns along the way. For Arizona Diamondback prospect Robby Rowland one of those turns took place today as he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Brett Lorin.

As a prospect, the road to the majors isn’t always a straight road. For most players there are bumps, detours and turns along the way. For Arizona Diamondback prospect Robby Rowland one of those turns took place today as he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitcher Brett Lorin.

The Diamondbacks acquired Lorin in the off-season from the Pittsburgh Pirates as part of Major League Baseball’s Rule 5 draft. Anyone who is selected during the Major League portion of the draft is required to stay on the Major League roster for the entire season. This spring the Diamondbacks have used Lorin, a 6’7 right-handed pitchers in a number of games. For the spring season he appeared in 8 games pitching a total of 9 innings. Lorin has a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA and he has stuck out seven while only walking one batter.

The Pirates who did not place Lorin on the 40 man roster earlier this year prior to the Rule 5 draft have a crowded roster of prospects. In exchange for the Diamondbacks opportunity to keep Lorin in their system the Pirates where able to acquire another big tall right-handed pitcher of their own in Robby Rowland. Standing tall at 6’6 and only 20 years old Rowland is an intriguing and projectable right-handed pitcher and throws up to a five pitch mix. Rowland was a 3rd round draft pick out of high school by the Diamonbacks and bypassed a chance to play college baseball at Oregon for the professional ranks. The Pirates do not have to protect Rowland on the 40 man roster and hope that their team of coaches and instructors can turn the projectability and talent of Rowland’s into a future rotation star.

For more information please check out our feature and interview with Robby Rowland this off-season: https://chasingmlbdreams.com/2012/01/14/chasing-the-dream-the-robby-rowland-story-and-interview/

Robby is extremely friendly and enjoys talking baseball and interacting on twitter. If you a Pirate fan or someone new to the site please give Robby a follow and say hello. You can find him at @RobbyRow_12 We will continue to follow Robby’s season all year-long here as opens a new chapter of his story, now chasing his dream to the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates.