Pirates Release Former Yankees Starting Pitcher
![Jul 31, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German (0) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Jul 31, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Domingo German (0) delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4521,h_2543,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/pittsburgh_pirates/01j30w427qr1ypdtmg31.jpg)
PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates released former New York Yankees pitcher Domingo German, who was in the Pirates minor league system.
German exercised an opt-out clause that released him from his minor league contract. The Pirates are open to bringing him back to their organization, according to Robert Murry of FanSided.
The Pirates released pitcher Domingo Germán after he exercised an opt-out clause in his contract, but the team remains open to bringing him back.
— Robert Murray (@ByRobertMurray) July 17, 2024
He signed a minor league contract with the Pirates back in March, for a deal that paid $1.25 million and came with a 2025 club option.
German made one start for the Bradenton Maurauders at Single-A, pitching four innings, allowing three hits, three walks and one earned run.
The franchise then promoted him to Triple-A with the Indianapolis Indians in May. He made 10 starts with a 4-4 record, 5.36 ERA, 50.1 innings pitched, allowing 51 hits, 30 earned runs, eight home runs and 28 walks, while making 48 strikeouts. He also held opposing batters to .225 hitting.
German previously spent seven seasons with the Yankees from 2017-23, pitching in 112 games and starting 89 contests. He had a 31-28 record, 4.41 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 522.1 innings pitched, 543 strikeouts, while allowing 161 walks, 454 hits and 256 earned runs.
He missed the end of the 2019 season and the postseason, plus the entire COVID-19 shortened 2020 season due to violating the MLB's personal conduct policy after they did an investigation into suspected domestic violence against his then girlfriend at the time.
German pitched a perfect game on June 28, 2023 in an 11-0 win over the Oakland A's at the Oakland Coliseum. It was the 24th perfect game in the MLB and the first since former Seattle Mariners star Felix Hernandez did it against the Tampa Bay Rays at Safeco Field in Seattle on August 15, 2012.