The Angels selected Oliva in the second round of the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 draft last week, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.
The 27-year-old outfielder was once a promising outfield prospect in the Pittsburgh system, but the Pirates booted him off the 40-man roster last March after he struggled mightily at the dish during his abbreviated stints at the big-league level in 2020 and 2021. He played exclusively at Triple-A Indianapolis in 2022, slashing .266/.324/.429 with eight home runs and 21 stolen bases across 349 plate appearances.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Loses roster spot
Rotowire
Oliva was designated for assignment Thursday.
Oliva had already been optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis, though he's now lost his grip on a 40-man roster spot. Once a relatively well-regarded prospect, Oliva posted only a .249/.321/.364 line across 249 plate appearances with Indianapolis in 2021. The move makes room for Josh VanMeter, who was acquired by the Pirates on Thursday.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Beginning season in Triple-A
Rotowire
Oliva was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday.
Oliva was a long shot to make the Opening Day roster with Bryan Reynolds and Ben Gamel locked into playing time and Anthony Alford out of minor-league options. Though he'll begin the season in the minors, Oliva could become an option for the big-league club if injuries, trades or poor performance occur among any of the team's outfield options.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
Oliva was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday, Alex Stumpf of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Oliva shifted to a bench role recently, and he had started just two games since the All-Star break. In nine appearances during that time, the 25-year-old went 3-for-13 with two runs and an RBI. He should see more consistent playing time in the minors, while Hoy Park will take his place on the active roster.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Moves into bench role
Rotowire
Oliva is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Oliva had started in four of the Pirates' final six games before the All-Star break, but he's been on the bench for three straight contests to kick off the second half. The 25-year-old looks like he'll be limited to a depth role in the outfield now that Gregory Polanco (hip) is healthy again.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Swipes bag Friday
Rotowire
Oliva went 1-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 13-4 loss to the Mets.
Oliva doubled, stole third and scored on an Adam Frazier single in the fifth inning. With Gregory Polanco (hip) and Ka'ai Tom (back) on the injured list, Oliva has seen semi-consistent playing time in July. He's hitting just .125 with two doubles, an RBI, a run scored and steal while striking out eight times in 26 plate appearances so far, all of which have come this month.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Gets another outfield start
Rotowire
Oliva went 0-for-2 with a walk in Sunday's 2-0 win over Milwaukee.
With Gregory Polanco nursing an injury, Oliva started all three weekend games in right field. He went 1-for-11 with his first RBI while striking out six times. While the 26-year-old wasn't particularly impressive, he could see regular playing time if injuries strike any of the three outfield starters ahead of him.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Receives promotion
Rotowire
The Pirates recalled Oliva from Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Colin Moran (wrist) was placed on the 10-day injured list in a corresponding move. The addition of Oliva provides some extra depth for the Pittsburgh outfield, but the 25-year-old won't necessarily have a path to an everyday role while he's up with the big club. He hit .167/.231/.229 across 52 plate appearances at Triple-A this season.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Making up for lost time
Rotowire
Oliva is 4-for-20 with one stolen base since making his season debut for Triple-A Indianapolis on June 12.
While an oblique injury in April cost him the first two months of 2021, he still has a chance to salvage his season. Pittsburgh has struggled to find consistency in left field and Oliva figures to receive a big-league audition this summer -- provided he showcases the skills that made him a prospect in the first place. Oliva holds a minor-league slash line of .273/.347/.399 with 15 homers and 85 stolen bases in little over three seasons.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Returning from injury
Rotowire
Oliva (oblique) joined Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Oliva missed the first month and change of the minor-league season with a left oblique strain, but is now set to join the Triple-A roster. It's not entirely clear if he'll be officially activated for Indianapolis' Friday game, but that move figures to come in the next couple days. If the outfielder is able to get off to a hot start at the plate, he could be a candidate for a major-league call-up in the near future.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Expected back in June
Rotowire
Oliva (oblique) is expected to begin full baseball activities in 4-to-6 weeks, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports
The outfielder has yet to appear in a game this year after beginning the season in Florida working on his offense before joining Pittsburgh's taxi squad a couple weeks ago. Oliva recorded three hits in 16 at-bats as a rookie in 2020.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Out with oblique strain
Rotowire
Oliva is dealing with a left oblique strain and will be out of action for four weeks, Jake Crouse of MLB.com reports.
Oliva had at least an outside shot to crack the Opening Day roster, but it now looks as though his season debut won't come for quite a while. Once he gets healthy, he'll still have to prove himself at the Triple-A level before pushing for a spot on the active roster. He won't get the chance to start that process until late May at the soonest.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Joining taxi squad
Rotowire
Oliva is at the Pirates' alternate training site and will be on the taxi squad for the upcoming road trip that begins Friday in Milwaukee, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Oliva and Cole Tucker were kept in extended spring training rather than heading straight to the alternate site to work on offensive skill development. The Pirates have gotten very little from Anthony Alford and Dustin Fowler in center field, so Oliva could soon get a chance to make a run at that job.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Working on 'skill development'
Rotowire
Oliva is in Florida for "skill development," according to manager Derek Shelton, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
He was surprisingly left off the initial roster for the Pirates' alternate training site, and it sounds like the Pirates felt Oliva would benefit more from the environment at extended spring training in the short term. Per Shelton, Oliva is expected to eventually head to the alternate site.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Not sent to alt. site
Rotowire
Oliva was not included on the Pirates' alternate site roster, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
This was a surprising omission, as Oliva is reportedly healthy and reached the majors last season. Brian Goodwin, Hunter Owen, Chris Sharpe, Troy Stokes, Travis Swaggerty are the outfielders who made the roster.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Optioned off roster
Rotowire
Oliva was optioned off the Pirates' active roster Monday.
Oliva appeared to be in the mix for an Opening Day roster spot and potentially a starting role, but his .143/.217/.333 line through 10 spring games likely didn't help his chances. He'll head to the minors for now but could push for a job sometime later this season. The move could open up starts for Anthony Alford or Cole Tucker.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Goes deep Wednesday
Rotowire
Oliva hit his first homer of the spring in Wednesday's loss to the Yankees.
He has two hits in six spring at-bats, seeing less time in the outfield than competition like Brian Goodwin. Oliva has seen time in both center and right thus far. At 25, he's the youngest of the team's current cast of bubble outfielders. Chances are that Oliva will start 2021 in Triple-A, but he'll be on the shortlist for a recall. In three minor-league campaigns, he's hit .274 and averaged 28 stolen bases, making him one to watch.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Puts injury in past
Rotowire
Oliva (back) is in the lineup for Sunday's exhibition game against the Orioles.
Oliva's sore back has kept him off the field since last Sunday, but he has recovered from the injury and is ready to resume playing. He will man right field and hit ninth in his return.
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Pirates' Jared Oliva: Tending to back injury
Rotowire
The Pirates scratched Oliva from the lineup for Tuesday's Grapefruit League game due to lower-back tightness.
Travis Swaggerty will check into the lineup in Oliva's stead, batting ninth and manning center field. The injury is considered a day-to-day concern, so Oliva could be ready to return to action within the next few days.
