Orioles Steal Former Top Prospect Marco Luciano from Pirates in Waiver Claim

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The Baltimore Orioles pulled off a significant move on Wednesday, claiming 24-year-old outfielder Marco Luciano off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. This development comes as the Orioles also made some internal roster adjustments, sending left-hander Josh Walker to Triple-A Norfolk and designating outfielder Jhonkensy Noel for assignment just two days after acquiring him from the Cleveland Guardians. Luciano, a Dominican Republic native, was once a top prospect in the San Francisco Giants organization. After signing with the Giants in 2018 for a $2.6 million bonus, he developed into a highly touted infielder before transitioning to the outfield. In 125 games for the Giants' Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, Luciano hit 23 home runs, drove in 66 runs, and stole 10 bases in 13 attempts. His minor league numbers have been impressive, but he struggled in his brief stint in the majors, batting just .217 with three RBIs and a .304 slugging percentage in 41 games over two seasons. The Pirates acquired Luciano from the Giants in December, and now the Orioles have snatched him away. Meanwhile, Walker, 31, has been shuffled between several teams, including the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves. Noel, 24, has struggled in his brief MLB stint, batting .193 with 19 home runs and 41 RBIs over two seasons with the Cleveland Guardians.