Tyler Calligan is ready to move past his gruesome injury after being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Spring Training trades are rare, but they aren’t impossible, and the Pittsburgh Pirates pulled off a minor move with the Cincinnati Reds late last week.
The Bucs acquired Tyler Callihan from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for RHP Kyle Nicolas.
Callihan has gone through a lot over the last calendar year. It looked like he could play a big role with the Reds in 2025, but he suffered a gruesome arm injury in Atlanta on May 5 after running into a wall while trying to make a catch. It was only the fourth game of his big-league career.
Ever since then, it’s been nothing but rehab and recovery for Callihan as he worked to make his way back onto the field. The thought of being moved to a new organization never crossed his mind.
Callihan admitted that he was “shocked” that he got traded, but is “very excited” to be joining the Pirates organization. He is mainly using the trade as a clean slate, looking to reboot his baseball career after the injury.
The 25-year-old is excited for a “fresh start, a reset, kind of young team, just get back into it. I think we really got a chance to make an impact, like I said. Just be in the lineup and try to do what I can to help the team win.”
Apr 30, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Tyler Callihan (32) throws to first to get St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pages (not pictured) out in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn ImagesCallihan had to undergo three major surgeries to repair his arm, which now has scars up and down, which he gladly showed off to reporters.
Even though Callihan feels good now, he admitted, “It was a lot. A lot of ups and downs, a lot of leaning on people that I love and I trust and have confidence in me.”
Callihan insisted that his arm may not look great, but he hasn’t felt better.
There’s no question that Calligan has the talent to be a key contributor and help the Pirates win games in a variety of roles.
In 24 games before being called up to the Reds' big-league roster in 2025, Callihan had a .938 OPS, including 10 extra-base hits. His last full season came in 2024, where Callihan logged a .276/.359/.429 slash line between Double-A and Triple-A.
It’ll be interesting to see what type of role the Pirates have in store for Callihan, but it’s clear he’s ready to put that injury behind him and help Pittsburgh anyway he can.
Pirates Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Pirates. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.