PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nick Kingham of the Pittsburgh Pirates has lost his bid for a perfect game in his major league debut when Paul DeJong of the St. Louis Cardinals singled with two outs in the seventh inning.The 26-year-old right-hander was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis earlier Sunday. Left-hander Enny Romero was designated for assignment to make room on the 25-man roster.Pittsburgh selected Kingham in the fourth round of the 2010 draft out of Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015, causing him to miss most of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.In four starts with Indianapolis this season, Kingham was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nick Kingham is pitching a perfect game through six innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates against the St. Louis Cardinals in his major league debut.The 26-year-old right-hander has struck out eight and thrown 79 pitches, 60 for strikes. The game was scoreless.Kingham was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Sunday. Left-hander Enny Romero was designated for assignment to make room on the 25-man roster.Pittsburgh selected Kingham in the fourth round of the 2010 draft out of Sierra Vista High School in Las Vegas. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2015, causing him to miss most of the 2015 and 2016 seasons.In four starts with Indianapolis this season, Kingham was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA.___More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Neal Huntington has a problem with the word "rebuild." To the Pittsburgh Pirates general manager, the connotation hints at raising a white flag on the present."Rebuild implies you're looking five years down the road," Huntington said.Which, Huntington insists, his team is not doing. Even after a three-day span in January in which the Pirates sent pitcher Gerrit Cole to Houston and franchise cornerstone Andrew McCutchen to San Francisco for younger, less proven and less expensive players. Even after an offseason in which Pittsburgh spent nothing on the open market in an effort to close the gap on NL Central rivals St. Louis and Chicago (and Milwaukee for that matter)."We lot of young talented players that are going to be entertaining," Huntington said. "We scratch our heads at times but they're going to be entertaining."Will they be competitive in one of baseball's most challenging divisions is another matter. Manager Clint Hurdle begins his eighth season very much like... [More]

Kingham underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday and will be out for 12-to-18 months.

This was widely anticipated ever since Kingham left a start with right elbow pain on May 6. He does not project to be much more than a No. 3 or No. 4 starter at the big league level, so he no longer warrants ownership in dynasty leagues that roster 150 or fewer prospects. While Kingham was believed to be the most likely minor league pitcher to help the Pirates in 2015 prior to his injury, Jameson Taillon has been looking great in extended spring training and could be an option for the big league club in the second half.

Kingham is still waiting on a second opinion for his injured elbow, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

The doctor Kingham scheduled for the check-in has apparently been very busy over the last three weeks, preventing the young right-hander from receiving a proper diagnosis. Kingham should have more information by the end of the month, but the delayed appointment hasn't been helpful for the pitcher nor the Pirates.

Nearly two weeks after Kingham injured his elbow, the Pirates are still awaiting word on Kingham and his status.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington said Sunday that the doctor Kingham wishes to receive a second opinion from was busy all last week. Huntington hopes to have further word on the righthander in the coming week, but the news (or lack of it) does not sound encouraging.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington said the team wouldn't receive a second opinion on Kingman's injured elbow until next week, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Kingham was placed on the 7-day DL on Friday due to the elbow issue, but the Pirates aren't certain on the extent of the injury quite yet. The 23-year-old produced a 4.31 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 31.1 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis before leaving a start Wednesday after experiencing pain in the elbow.

Kingham (elbow) has been placed on the disabled list with Triple-A Indianapolis, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

While the Pirates haven't provided much in the way of details, we do know that Kingham left his Wednesday start due to pain in his right elbow. The 23-year-old profiles as a potential mid-rotation starter, and while his 4.31 ERA won't impress, an improved strikeout rate (23.5 percent) through 31.1 innings is a good sign for his future. If the injury doesn't turn out to be serious, Kingham could push for a big-league rotation spot by the end of the season.

Kingham left Wednesday's start with right elbow pain and will require further evaluation, MiLB.com's Danny Wild reports.

The big 23-year-old righty is a fringe top-100 prospect in dynasty leagues, but a significant elbow injury would be a bit of a hit to his overall stock. There seemed to be a good chance that he would make the big leagues at some point this season, although he is more floor than ceiling at this point. Those in dynasty leagues should continue to monitor his status in the coming days.

The Pirates sent Kingham to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

The righty appeared in three games, tossing six innings without allowing an earned run. Kingham, who compiled a 3.34 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 159 IP for Indy last season, could receive a midseason promotion with a strong start and several injuries to Pittsburgh's rotation. He's probably the organization's third-or fourth-ranked pitching prospect, but he might be the closest one to the major leagues.