Saturday, June 9, 2001

[ PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL ]

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Ah Yat a free agent
after Pirates grant
request for release

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By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Paul Ah Yat asked for and was granted his release from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization June 1.

The left-handed pitcher, who played for Iolani and the University of Hawaii, was invited to the Pirates' big-league spring training camp this year, but ended up being assigned to Nashville in the Pacific Coast League.

He got off to an uncharacteristic start with a high earned run average, surrendering an average of almost two hits per inning.

"I didn't pitch regularly at all. The last 40 days I was there, I only threw three times," Ah Yat said.

When the Pirates made some shadow roster moves and assigned Ah Yat to Williamsport in the short-season, Class A New York-Penn League on May 23, he asked for his release.

"They tried to trade me and get me to another team. But everything fell through and now I'm a free agent," Ah Yat said. "I'm looking for a place to play. I appreciate it that the Pirates were good enough to give me my release."

In five previous seasons in the Pittsburgh organization, Ah Yat had compiled a 37-27 record with a 3.38 ERA. He had struck out 519 and walked 150 in 623 innings.

In 20-1/3 innings for Nashville, he had a 1-4 record, a 9.30 ERA with 15 strikeouts and nine walks.