A.J. Schugel is starting to hit his groove in Pittsburgh.
The former Thunder Bay Border Cats star has found regular duty in the Pirates bullpen this season, his second in the major leagues.
The 26-year-old, who played for the Cats in 2009 and 2010 before being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the 25th round in the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft, has posted a 1-2 record with the Pirates, who claimed him earlier this year on waivers from the Seattle Mariners.
Schugel, who was sent to the minors after a rough start to the campaign, has lowered his ERA to 4.08 and has a sparkling WHIP of 1.08 pitching in long relief for Pittsburgh.
He’s not the only former Border Cats player making time in the big leagues.
Detroit’s Blaine Hardy, who also spent time in AAA ball this season, earlier this month was recalled by the Tigers.
The southpaw, who briefly played for the Border Cats, is 0-0 in 2016 with a 1.59 ERA with a 1.24 WHIP.
Hardy and Schugel are two of four former Thunder Bay players to make the majors, a group that includes the now retired Matt Mangini and infielder Jonathan Diaz, now playing in the New York Yankees farm system.
