Pirates put punished pierogi back on the field

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The pierogi is back, but the Pirates say its not because anybody turned up the heat.

Pittsburgh Pirates communications director Brian Warecki says the team has rehired 24-year-old Andrew Kurtz, the part-time pierogi fired last week after criticizing contract extensions given to general manager Neal Huntington and manager John Russell.

Warecki told local reporters Tuesday that Kurtz was rehired Saturday because he was not dismissed in accordance with company procedures. The Associated Press could not reach immediately reach a team spokesman to confirm Kurtz’s rehiring on Wednesday.

Warecki says bad publicity played no part in the decision to rehire Kurtz, who earns $25-per-night to race around the stadium in a pierogi costume.