KA'AI TOM NEWS

Cut loose by Giants The Giants released Tom on Sunday.

Impact Tom appeared in one game with the Giants in April but had otherwise spent the 2022 campaign at Triple-A Sacramento. Over 311 plate appearances at Sacramento, the 28-year-old outfielder slashed .239/.339/.414 with 10 home runs and six stolen bases.

AUGUST 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sent back to Triple-A Tom was sent back to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tom joined the team Friday when Brandon Belt and Steven Duggar tested positive for COVID-19. He went 0-for-1 off the bench and will now return to the minors, with the Giants adding Mike Ford in a trade with the Mariners in a corresponding move.

APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Promoted to majors Tom's contract was selected from Triple-A Sacramento prior to Friday's game against the Nationals, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact The 27-year-old journeyman hit .327/.387/.509 with two home runs and one steal in 15 games at Triple-A, although his 25.8 percent strikeout rate is a bit of a red flag, given the jump in competition from Triple-A to the majors. He has a career .139/.278/.231 slash line in 133 MLB plate appearances.

APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Inks minor-league deal Tom signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Tom was released by the Pirates on Monday, but he'll head to Triple-A Sacramento late in the regular season. Across 23 minor-league appearances this year, the 27-year-old has slashed .190/.299/.310 with two home runs, seven RBI and six runs.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Alongside prospect progression, Pirates place Stallings and Wilson on IL, release Nogowski and Tom CINCINNATI — Class AAA Indianapolis confirmed Monday that a bevy of the Pirates’ top prospects at Class AA Altoona have been promoted. Infie...

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM

Released by Pirates Tom was released by Pittsburgh on Monday, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Tom was selected in the Rule 5 draft by Oakland over the winter and then claimed by the Pirates in April, but he didn't perform at anywhere close to the necessary level at either stop, hitting .139/.278/.231 in 48 games. He was outrighted to the minors last week, but the Pirates evidently decided that he didn't even have value as organizational depth. At this point in the season, it's difficult to see him returning to the majors for a new team.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stays with Pittsburgh organization The Pirates outrighted Tom to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday after he cleared waivers, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Tom was a Rule 5 selection by the Athletics over the winter before he was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in April, so the fact that he's staying in the Pittsburgh organization despite no longer possessing a 40-man roster spot suggests that Cleveland wasn't interested in taking back his rights. After submitting a .934 OPS with Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate in Columbus in 2019, Tom didn't look like an MLB-caliber player across his stops in Oakland and Pittsburgh this season, turning in a .139/.278/.231 slash line over 133 plate appearances.

AUGUST 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Activated and DFA'd The Pirates activated Tom (back) from the 10-day injured list Monday and designated him for assignment, Mike Persak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Impact Tom will be cast off an organization's 40-man roster for the second time this season after the Athletics previously designated him for assignment in April. The Pirates subsequently claimed Tom off waivers and gave him a look in their outfield, but aside from breaking up a German Marquez no-hitter in late June, the 27-year-old provided few highlights between his two big-league stops. As an older prospect who posted a .510 OPS and struck out at a 27.1 percent clip in 133 big-league plate appearances, Tom may not fetch much interest as he heads back to the waiver wire. If that's the case, the Pirates would have to offer him back to Cleveland, the organization that held his rights before Oakland selected him in the Rule 5 draft last December.

AUGUST 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rehab assignment begins Tom (back) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tom has been out with a back strain since early July. Given that he's missed over a month, he'll likely need a handful of rehab appearances before he's deemed ready to go.

AUGUST 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Resumes baseball activities Tom (back) has resumed baseball activities, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Tom suffered a setback last week, but he's now feeling better and could progress to hitting soon. A timetable for the 27-year-old's return to game action could be established once he ramps up his workload.

JULY 28, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers setback Tom (back) recently aggravated his back injury and will be shut down until early next week, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Tom resumed baseball activities in early July, and the team was optimistic that he'd be able to return shortly after the All-Star break. However, he's now returned to Pittsburgh, and he isn't expected to resume baseball activities until early next week. It's not yet clear when the 27-year-old will be able to return to game action.

JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Resumes baseball activities Tom (back) has resumed baseball activities and the club is optimistic he'll be able to return from the injured list shortly after next week's All-Star break, Kevin Gorman of TribLi...

Impact Tom hit the IL last Saturday with a low back strain. The fact that the outfielder has already resumed baseball activities is a strong indication that he'll be able to avoid going on a rehab assignment as he looks to be activated shortly after the Pirates return from the All-Star break July 16.

JULY 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Lands on injured list Tom was placed on the 10-day injured list with a low back strain Saturday, retroactive to July 2.

Impact Tom didn't appear in Friday's loss to the Brewers, and he was apparently dealing with a back injury that will put him on the shelf through the All-Star break. It's not yet clear when the 27-year-old could return to action, but Jared Oliva could see increased playing time in the coming days since Gregory Polanco (hip) is considered day-to-day.

JULY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Breaks up no-hitter Tom went 1-for-3 in Tuesday's 8-0 loss to Colorado on Tuesday.

Impact His ninth-inning single broke up German Marquez's bid for a no-hitter. Tom entered the ninth inning with two hits in his last 44 plate appearances. The Rule 5 pick is slashing .137/.278/.225 in 126 plate appearances but remains on the team, in part, because of a lack of alternatives.

JUNE 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Playing time disappearing Tom is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Cleveland.

Impact Tom will be on the bench for the fourth time in five games, and the Pirates appear to be viewing him as their fifth outfielder at this stage. All of Bryan Reynolds, Gregory Polanco, Ben Gamel and Phillip Evans appear to be ahead of Tom in the pecking order for playing time at either corner-outfield spot or in center.

JUNE 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sits after four straight starts Tom is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.

Impact Tom will head to the bench after four straight starts in left field, but he could struggle to pick up regular playing time at the position moving forward now that Phillip Evans is back from the injured list. It hasn't helped Tom's case that he's off to a brutal 2-for-24 start to June, which has dropped his season average to .148.

JUNE 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Struggles continue Friday Tom went 0-for-3 with a strikeout in Friday's 7-4 loss to Milwaukee on Friday.

Impact He's 1-for-20 with a walk and two HBP in the month of June. Tom, a Rule 5 pick, registered a 12:13 BB:K from late April to the end of May, but has fashioned a 1:8 BB:K in June. It would be a surprise to see him stay with Pittsburgh all season long, but the team currently has few outfield options.

JUNE 12, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

On bench again Tom is not starting Tuesday's game against the Dodgers.

Impact Tom has yet to get into a groove since returning from the injured list May 29, going 3-for-18 with seven strikeouts and dealing with some wrist discomfort last week. Phillip Evans gets the start in left field Tuesday.

JUNE 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sits Sunday Tom is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.

Impact Though the Marlins have a right-hander (Sandy Alcantara) on the hill, the lefty-hitting Tom will take a seat in favor Ben Gamel. The Pirates may just be holding Tom out as a precaution, given that the rookie recently shook off a wrist injury. Tom started both of the last two games in the Pittsburgh outfield, going 1-for-7 with an RBI and a run.

JUNE 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to lineup Tom (wrist) is starting Friday's game against the Marlins, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Impact Tom exited Tuesday's game against the Royals due to left wrist discomfort and was held out of the lineup for Thursday's series opener against Miami. He'll start in left field and bat sixth.

JUNE 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Won't start Thursday Tom (wrist) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Marlins, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Impact Tom experienced left wrist discomfort during Pittsburgh's last game Tuesday in Kansas City, and Wednesday's team off day apparently wasn't enough to fully resolve the issue. Ben Gamel will pick up the start in left field in place of Tom, who can be considered day-to-day heading into the weekend.

JUNE 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pittsburgh Pirates: Making the Case for Ka’ai Tom to Bat Leadoff With Ka'ai Tom looking like an on-base machine how can the Pittsburgh Pirates best utilize his skill set? Most fans who tune into a game and...

JUNE 3, 2021 • RUMBUNTER.COM

Leaves with wrist discomfort Tom was removed from Tuesday's game at Kansas City with left wrist discomfort, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

Impact The 27-year-old was hit by a pitch while attempting a bunt, and he exited the contest during the following inning. Tom recently returned from the injured list after dealing with an injury to the same wrist.

JUNE 2, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remains with big club Tom will remain with the major-league club after serving as the team's 27th man during Saturday's doubleheader, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.

Impact This doesn't come as a surprise, as it was reported that the Pirates would try to find a way to keep Tom on the major-league roster. Ildemaro Vargas was designated for assignment and JT Brubaker was placed on the bereavement list in corresponding roster moves.

MAY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Reinstated from 10-day injured list Tom (wrist) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Saturday.

Impact Tom had been dealing with a left wrist injury recently, but he'll return to the roster after a minimum stay on the 10-day injured list. He's designated as the 27th man for Saturday's doubleheader against the Rockies but will likely remain with the major-league club going forward. Tom isn't in the lineup for Game 1 of the twin bill, as Ben Gamel is starting in left field and batting second.

MAY 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE