With the news of the Tommy John surgery for Nick Kingham, who became the second anticipated member of the Indianapolis starting rotation to go down with the elbow ailment, Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor feels for the starter.
“It is really tough when you have someone to focus on, who is in the plans, and then to lose a year to year and a half,” Treanor said. “He probably won’t be back until next summer at least. It is a setback for him.”
Brandon Cumpton had Tommy John surgery before the regular season even started, and now he is joined by Kingham. However, Treanor is also optimistic for the starters remaining in the organizations, and points to the production for these starter to limit the sting.
“The thing about the Pirates, the younger pitching just keeps getting better,” Treanor said. “Now, we just have to wait for those guys to get back. With Brandon Cumpton at the beginning of the year, you had two guys that were going to be in this rotation [including Kingham], but the guys have filled in well and done a nice job here.”
The other pitching news from Thursday was that Jameson Taillon worked three strong innings in extended Spring Training, having him progressing closer to joining the Indianapolis rotation.
“Unless something happens up there, we are obviously anticipating Taillon getting here,” Treanor said. “Whenever he gets here, he gets here and we will make some decisions then.”
As for the time frame for Taillon, Treanor said that it is still a wait-and-see situation on the arrival and he has not heard any news on the path to Indianapolis.
“It is a matter of innings and what they want him to do pitch-wise,” Treanor said. “At least until he gets here, so he can go in there and get a good number in the pitch count. We have talked about him a little bit, and that he is on the track to get here, but when he gets here is up in the air and depends on how he reacts.”
Along with this, Deibinson Romero left the team to pursue an opportunity in Korea. Treanor said that to combat this, they will move Brent Morel back to third base and slide Hunter Morris back in at first. Romero had previously beaten Morel out at third base before leaving.
Morris has really struggled with Indianapolis so far this season, but Treanor is hopeful that having him play every day will get him going.
“With Romero gone, we have moved Morel over to third and Morris to first,” Treanor said. “It is a little bit different and hopefully with some more at bats, Morris can get going. We looked good with that yesterday and I like Morel at third base, so we are good there and it is not going to be a drop off at all.”
