MILWAUKEE — Jack Leathersich’s final appearance for Class AAA Iowa came Sept. 1. The Chicago Cubs designated him for assignment the next day. He went home to Beverly, Mass., but kept throwing, just in case.
“I thought I had a pretty good year, I thought I had a pretty good chance of getting claimed by somebody,” he said.
Two days later, the Pirates claimed him off waivers, and on Sunday they added him to their major league bullpen.
“It’s awesome. My whole mom’s side of the family grew up in Pittsburgh,” he said. “I’ve been traveling there my whole life.