The Pirates traded minor-league outfielder Gilberto Celestino to the Cubs on Thursday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Celestino slashed .271/.348/.356 with three home runs for Triple-A Indianapolis, and he'll likely report to Triple-A Iowa after being acquired by the Cubs. The outfielder appeared in the majors during 2021 and 2022 for Minnesota, where he had a .592 OPS in 409 plate appearances across 145 games.
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Pirates' Gilberto Celestino: Nabs MiLB deal from Bucs
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Celestino agreed to a minor-league deal with the Pirates on Monday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The deal presumably includes an invitation to big-league spring training, where Celestino could get the chance to compete for a reserve outfield spot on the Pirates' Opening Day roster. The 24-year-old possesses a decent amount of speed and is regarded as a solid defender, but he owns an underwhelming .222/.292/.300 slash line over 409 career MLB plate appearances. He didn't see any action in the majors in 2023, as he opened the season on the Twins' injured list after requiring surgery in March to address a torn UCL in his left thumb and remained in the minors once he was cleared for game action in late May.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Outrighted to Triple-A
Rotowire
Celestino cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A St. Paul on Thursday.
Celestino is no longer on the Twins' 40-man roster but will remain in the organization. The outfielder missed much of the 2023 season due to injury and batted .243/.392/.389 at St. Paul.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Designated for assignment
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Celestino was designated for assignment Sunday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The move clears a spot on the 40-man roster for Jorge Alcala (forearm), who was activated from the 60-day IL. Celestino slashed .243/.392/.389 with four home runs and four steals in 55 games at Triple-A.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Loses roster spot
Rotowire
Celestino was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Celestino was only up for a few days while Jorge Polanco was on bereavement and didn't appear in any games. Polanco is back to reclaim his roster spot.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Recalled from Triple-A
Rotowire
Minnesota recalled Celestino from Triple-A St. Paul on Sunday.
Jorge Polanco (personal) has been placed on the bereavement list in a corresponding roster move. This is the first MLB call-up of the year for Celestino, who was slashing .235/.373/.388 with four homers and three steals across 48 games for St. Paul.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Optioned after coming off IL
Rotowire
Minnesota reinstated Celestino (thumb) from the 60-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A St. Paul.
Celestino will continue to get at-bats with St. Paul, but he'll now be a formal member of their roster rather than playing with the club in a rehabbing capacity. The outfielder missed the first two months of the season while recovering from a UCL tear in his thumb in early March, and he could be a bench option for the Twins at some point in the 2023 campaign.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Moves rehab to Triple-A
Rotowire
Celestino (thumb) started in center field and went 0-for-2 with three walks and two runs in a rehab game Sunday with Triple-A St. Paul.
Celestino joined up with St. Paul for the second leg of his rehab assignment after he made his 2023 debut May 30 for Single-A Fort Myers and played in four games. The 24-year-old could be an option in the Minnesota outfield once he gets in a few more rehab games, but he'll likely be limited to a reserve role whenever he's activated.
Celestino (thumb) began a rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Myers on Tuesday and went 1-for-2 with a run scored in his first game with the affiliate.
Celestino suffered a ulnar collateral ligament tear in his thumb in early March. He'll likely need several weeks of a rehab assignment to get back to full speed. He may be assigned to Triple-A St. Paul after he's done with the rehab assignment, as it's not clear there will be a spot for him on the major-league roster.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Moved to 60-day IL
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Celestino was transferred to the 60-day injured list by the Twins on Thursday with a left thumb UCL tear, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
The Twins needed to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for Kyle Garlick, who had his contract selected Thursday. Celestino now isn't eligible to return until late May.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Placed on 10-day IL
Rotowire
Celestino (thumb) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
He injured his thumb in early March and at the time was expected to be out six-to-eight weeks. He was likely set to begin the season at Triple-A, but he was placed on the major-league injured list. He'll likely be moved to Triple-A when healthy. After posting just a .592 OPS with four homers and four steals in 145 games over the last two seasons, he'll likely need to re-establish himself in the minors before given another shot in Minnesota.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Out 6-8 weeks with thumb injury
Rotowire
The Twins announced Thursday that Celestino will be sidelined 6-8 weeks after suffering a ulnar collateral ligament tear in his thumb, TwinsDaily.com reports.
Celestino had likely been pegged for Triple-A St. Paul to start the season but will now begin the year on the injured list. The 24-year-old has sported just a .592 OPS with four homers and four steals in 145 games over the last two seasons with the Twins.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Absent from Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Celestino isn't starting Saturday against the Tigers.
Celestino will get a day off after he went 2-for-8 with a double, an RBI, a walk and a strikeout over the last two games. Mark Contreras is starting in center field and batting ninth.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Riding pine Wednesday
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Celestino isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox.
Celestino has gone 2-for-8 with a double, an RBI and a strikeout over his last two games but will head to the bench for a second consecutive matchup. Mark Contreras is starting in center field and batting ninth.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Heads to bench Friday
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Celestino isn't starting Friday against the Angels.
Celestino started the last six games and went 4-for-17 with two runs, a stolen base, two walks and six strikeouts. Mark Contreras will take over in center field and bat eighth Friday.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Reclaims everyday role
Rotowire
Celestino will start in center field and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Guardians.
After back-to-back games on the bench Sept. 10 and 11, Celestino appears to have re-emerged as a regular in the Minnesota outfield. He'll start in center for the seventh time in eight games after going 3-for-18 with a double, three walks and three runs over his past six starts. Expect Celestino continue to hold down a near-everyday role until the Twins return Byron Buxton (hip) from the injured list.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Sits against righty again
Rotowire
Celestino is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians.
For the second game in a row, the righty-hitting Celestino finds himself on the bench against a righty (Shane Bieber). After slashing a mediocre .202/.302/.236 in his 17 games since Byron Buxton (hip) was placed on the injured list Aug. 23, Celestino may have faded into a short-side platoon role in center field with the lefty-hitting Jake Cave.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Heads to bench Saturday
Rotowire
Celestino isn't in the lineup Saturday against Cleveland.
Celestino started the last 16 games but will get a breather after he went 1-for-10 with a walk and two strikeouts over the last three matchups. Jake Cave will take over in center field and bat ninth.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Draws 12th straight start
Rotowire
Celestino will start in center field and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Yankees.
Since Byron Buxton (hip) was placed on the injured list Aug. 23, Celestino has settled in as the Twins' everyday center fielder. Celestino will pick up his 12th consecutive start Monday after slashing .194/.310/.250 with four runs and four RBI over the previous 11 contests.
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Twins' Gilberto Celestino: Could be primary Buxton replacement
Rotowire
Celestino will start in center field and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Astros.
Celestino will draw his second start in a row after going 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 5-3 loss. While Byron Buxton (hip) is on the 10-day injured list, Celestino appears poised to serve as the Twins' primary option in center field.
