MILWAUKEE -- The Pirates yesterday designated right-hander Bryan Bullington, the team's top pick overall in the 2002 draft, for assignment.

The Pirates designated Bullington to make room on the 40-man roster for outfielder Chris Duffy, whose time on the 60-day disabled list had expired. Duffy had to be reinstated to the 40-man roster, and somebody had to be taken off the 40-man to make room for him.

The Pirates have 10 days to trade Bullington, keep him at Class AAA Indianapolis if he clears waivers or release him outright.

The move comes on the heels of another poor major league start for John Van Benschoten, the Pirates' No. 1 pick in 2001 who was rocked for five runs and five hits, including three home runs, in 2¹/₃ innings Wednesday at Cincinnati.

"Obviously we're not going to release [Bullington]," general manager Neal Huntington said last night. "It's a calculated gamble. We're not done with Bryan Bullington."

It seems unlikely another organization would trade for Bullington, who has pitched in only six major league games and is 0-3 with a 5.89 earned run average at that level.

"We hope to get him through [waivers] and continue to develop him so he can reach his potential," Huntington said.

Bullington, projected by the Pirates as a No. 3 starter when former general manager Dave Littlefield oversaw drafting him in 2002, is 4-6 with a 5.52 earned run average in 15 starts for Indianapolis this season.

Bullington continues to seem like a "Four A" pitcher -- in baseball vernacular a player who is serviceable in Class AAA but not good enough to establish himself in the majors. The same could be said for Van Benschoten.

Van Benschoten is 1-10 with an 8.82 ERA in 16 major league starts.

Duffy had surgery on his left (throwing) shoulder Aug. 31. He had been on a rehabilitation assignment with Class AA Altoona while on the 60-day disabled list. The Pirates reinstated him to the 40-man roster and officially optioned him back to Altoona.

• Indianapolis center fielder Andrew McCutchen, the Pirates' top draft pick in 2005, has been named to the International League All-Star team. The International League All-Stars will play the Pacific League All-Stars July 16 in Louisville. ESPN2 will televise the game, beginning at 7:05 p.m.

• Class AA Altoona will have pitchers Pat Bresnehan and Yoslan Herrera and infielders Jason Delaney and Shelby Ford in the Eastern League All-Star game July 16 in Manchester, N.H.