BRADENTON, Fla. – Nick Kingham made his second official rehab start today, going four innings for the first time in his build up. He only threw 37 pitches, with 26 strikes, as the focus today was just on ups and downs, and not on getting his pitch count up. The next time out, he will throw four innings again, but might finish off in the bullpen if he’s just as efficient, in order to get his workload up. That start is expected to be next Tuesday.
Kingham didn’t give up any walks or hits until the fourth inning today. He then gave up two hits in the fourth, leading to his only run of the day. He didn’t issue a walk, and struck out two. Despite the outing, Kingham didn’t like where his fastball was located, noting he was up in the zone for the second straight outing.
“Again, the ball was up in the zone,” Kingham said. “That’s what I’m trying to really work on. Today I got away with a lot of stuff. Off-speed was good. Curveball, I fell in love with it today. Probably threw it more often than I should have. Changeup felt good, down in the zone. I liked the action on it. Just fastball, trying to work in the bottom of the zone, that’s my only concern for today.”
The velocity today touched 92-93 MPH, after sitting mostly 90-91 and touching 92 the last time out. He saw that velocity drop to 89-90, touching 91 in the fourth inning. The velocity is starting to creep up a bit, and Kingham expects that to continue as he builds up arm strength.
“I think every game it’s a new level,” Kingham said. “It’s like I get a little bit more tired and sore and fatigued, and the same amount of days turn around and pitch again. So it’s always like I’m pushing a little bit further, and I haven’t really reached my full strength yet. I’m kind of progressing slowly, but the strength will come. The endurance is getting there, that’s what we’re building, and the strength will come up behind it. That’s what I’m really trying to bank on right now.”
Kingham will make another four inning start next week, and will follow that with two more five inning outings in the GCL. From there, he expects to go to Bradenton for a few starts. Last week he told me he didn’t expect to reach Indianapolis this year. Today he said he does expect to pitch through the end of the season, although he’s going to be limited to five innings maximum the rest of the way.
“I think five is the most I’ll go this year,” Kingham said. “Depending on my pitch count, if it’s in the 40s through five, I might be able to go another one. But I think five is going to be my limit this year.”
This is the same approach the Pirates took with Clay Holmes last year, who didn’t go beyond five innings in his return from Tommy John. Holmes has been able to extend beyond that this year, with one break so far in the middle of the season for rest. Expect Kingham to take the same approach next year. He could be an option for the Pirates, just like Taillon was this year, but that will definitely have to wait until next year.
Jacob Taylor Close to a Return
In other Tommy John recovery news, the Pirates’ 2015 fourth round pick Jacob Taylor is three weeks away from pitching in a game in the GCL. Taylor signed for an $700,000 over-slot bonus out of the JuCo ranks last year, but only made one start before going down with his injury. I talked to him briefly today, and he said he expects to stay in the GCL to build up, and if he’s not able to build up to five innings, he will continue pitching during the Fall Instructional Leagues.
