Clint Hurdle said today that optioning Tony Sanchez to Class AAA Indianapolis was a result of preserving depth and roster construction, and had nothing to do with Sanchez’s abilities.

“This was a mechanical move and had nothing to do with what he wasn't able to accomplish here because he met the demands of the things we put out for him earlier,” Hurdle said. 

Audio of Clint Hurdle’s meeting with the media.

Sanchez went down because Chris Stewart came off the DL after rehabbing his strained right hamstring. 

“He has met every post marker on his rehab through the time in Altoona, the time in Indy,” Hurdle said. “His workouts, his game play, his blocking, throwing, the at-bats, he got close to 20 of them. Swung the bat well, the reports from both managers were very positive while he was there. He's healthy, he's moving around.”

Sanchez and Elias Diaz will split playing time at Indy. They will play two games on, two games off in an attempt to build some rhythm.

“We want Tony to play and get the reps,” Hurdle said. “That will work out. He just needs to continue to build on what he has done over the winter and incrementally get a little bit better every day and be ready for the next opportunity.”

Hurdle said carrying three catchers is not feasible. Sanchez will not play any first base as of right now, especially because the Pirates traded for Hunter Morris at the end of spring training. 

***Andrew McCutchen is hitting fourth for the 29th time in his career. He hit there once in 2013 and the other 27 games in 2011. The move down a spot from his usual No. 3 spot is temporary, Hurdle said, with Neil Walker out of the lineup.

Walker is out so he gets two consecutive days off. Sean Rodriguez is starting at second. 

First Published: May 1, 2015, 3:08 a.m.