During the second inning of Game 1 against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates unexpectedly removed Bryan Reynolds from the lineup. Alexander Canario replaced him and delivered a crucial two-run single, briefly giving the Pirates the lead before they eventually fell 7-3. The Pirates later announced that Reynolds left to be with his wife for the birth of their third child, eliminating concerns about injury or trades but signaling his absence for a few days. To fill the void, the team recalled Billy Cook, according to MLB.com’s Alex Stumpf.

Billy Cook’s Journey and Early Major League Performance

Billy Cook made his major league debut with the Pirates last season after being acquired at the trade deadline in exchange for Patrick Reilly. The deal fulfilled mutual prospect needs for both teams. Cook performed well in the minors with Indianapolis, which led to his late-season call-up where he appeared in 16 games. During that stint, Cook hit three home runs, posted a .673 OPS, and achieved a 79 weighted Runs Created Plus (wRC+), signaling promising offensive contributions.

Cook’s Struggles and Recent Improvements in the 2025 Season

Although Cook started the 2025 season slowly, ending May with an OPS below .600 and 50 strikeouts, his performance notably improved in late May and June. Since May 25, he recorded 10 multi-hit games and entered his call-up riding an eight-game hitting streak. His June batting average surged to .458, with four doubles and six RBIs, although he has yet to hit a home run this season. This improvement raised his overall batting average to .271, a significant increase from earlier struggles.

Implications for the Pirates’ Outfield and Future Prospects

The resurgence from Cook provides an encouraging alternative to Tommy Pham, whose time with the Pirates has been underwhelming. Despite Cook’s improvements, it appears unlikely that the Pirates will designate Pham for assignment when Reynolds returns. Nonetheless, there is hope that Manager Don Kelly will give Cook more playing time to assess his potential at the major league level, allowing fans a glimpse of the organization’s future talent.

“Luckily, that shut down any injury or trade concerns, but now they will be without their two-time All-Star for a few days.” —Alex Stumpf, MLB.com