Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk provided reporters with an update on a trio of injured pitchers Wednesday, giving generally positive news on lefty Steven Brault and righties Jameson Taillon and Clay Holmes (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Rob Biertempfel).
Brault, who’ll turn 28 next week, is in the “advanced” stages of his rehab from a shoulder strain and should begin throwing in the next three to five days. The southpaw was shut down in Spring Training and was initially slated to be reevaluated two weeks after that date, but at last check he was three-plus weeks removed from the stoppage of his throwing program without much of an update. By the time he resumes throwing, Brault will have been sidelined for nearly two months. He’s functioned as both a starter and reliever for the Bucs over the past four seasons and should be an oft-used piece in both roles again if the 2020 season is able to get underway.
Taillon, meanwhile, resumed throwing after a “scheduled” break in his rehab process. The former No. 2 overall draft pick made good on his longstanding top prospect billing with a brilliant 2018 season (191 innings, 3.20 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 8.4 K/9, 2.2 BB/9) but struggled in 2019 before landing on the shelf and ultimately undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery. Taillon, who won’t pitch in 2020 regardless of the season’s structure, remains under Pirates control through the 2022 season.
As for Holmes, the fractured foot he sustained in Spring Training has now healed in full. He’s in the process of ramping his throwing program back up and is slated to throw on a slope before week’s end. The 27-year-old had a miserable season both in the big leagues and the minors in 2019, but his 2018 campaign in Triple-A featured 95 1/3 innings of 3.40 ERA ball with 9.4 K/9, 3.8 BB/9 and a whopping 60 percent ground-ball rate. Holmes is out of minor league options, so he’ll likely be a part of the roster whenever play picks back up, giving the club an option at the back of the rotation or perhaps in a long relief capacity.
What is the status of Chad Kuhl?
I think he’s 100%, right? Pitched in ST before the pause
He pitched in two games in Spring Training before the shutdown, yeah. His TJ surgery came back at the end of the 2018 season and they’ve not made any type of setback known, so I expect that he’ll be in the mix whenever play resumes.
Kuhl does have minor league options remaining, so he’s not a lock to make the club — but I’d expect that the likely expanded rosters would work in his favor, too.
he pitched in ST but looked pretty terrible
he also hadn’t pitched in any sort of competative situation in quite a while. spring stats don’t matter (much) if they are doing anything right, but he probably would’ve been sent down for a bit to continue getting more innings barring any further injuries in the mlb club.
Jeff Locke still the number 3?
Injured Kuhl still checks in better than Brault entirely.
Agree!
Fangraphs have a very decent zips projection for Kuhl. He could be a decent #4 if healthy. This is his age 27 year, so time is on his side (well, IF they even play this year).
Nothing new. Front office is intent on losing 100+ this year. 2015 was a missed opportunity (should have done the Archer trade then)
What is on his arm?
Ink, yo.