INDIANAPOLIS — He took a few steps off the mound and immediately started pointing toward his catcher.
Steven Brault finished his most recent start with a swinging strikeout of Scranton Wilkes-Barre’s Mason Williams on a slider. In the previous at-bats, Brault worked inside against Williams. So, on an 0-2 count, catcher Elias Diaz moved position to call a slider. Diaz knew the pitch would work and Brault had no thoughts of shaking off the call. And with good reason. Williams swung and missed at the slider, giving Brault his season-high ninth strikeout of the game.
As soon as Williams struck out for the final out of the inning, Brault enthusiastically pointed toward Diaz and patted him on the back as they walked toward the dugout.
That’s the result the organization wants to see from Brault and other pitchers — being comfortable with a pitch and throwing it with conviction. With that being said, Brault has shaken off catcher calls with a little more frequency than in the past.
“They want to make sure I’m calling my game, so there’s a little bit more shaking,” Brault said. “I’ve talked about this [with Diaz] and he knows. It’s really cool that we have that. There’s a little more shaking off but he doesn’t take offense.”
But that slider to Williams, well, there was no calling off that pitch.
“[Diaz] moved [his catching position] without even checking,” Brault said. “We had been pounding that guy in all day and we knew it was going to work and we both had it. That was a culmination of the day.”
Brault was solid, but not spectacular, in his first three starts of the season. Indianapolis manager Andy Barkett said Brault showed “major league stuff” for portions of his first three starts. Brault had a “major league outing,” in his fourth start. He struck out a season-high nine and walked a season-low one batter, allowing just one run in six innings. It looked like an outing Brault had last season when he went on a run with Indianapolis before getting promoted to Pittsburgh.
The “swagger” is returning. Brault wants to keep a certain attitude on the mound, carry a certain confidence level. He wants to remember what type of pitcher he is and have confidence in that style.
“It helps when you have other people affirming that you are good,” Brault said. “It’s nice being able to have that, but also a big part of it is just me staying in my game and being confident, and that’s when I’m at my best. Not when I’m trying to strike everybody out, not when I’m trying to throw really hard but when I’m actually playing my game, mixing things up and making hitters feel uncomfortable.”
Brault knows what he needs to do in order to have success, and simulating what he did in his last outing would be a good beginning. Against Scranton on Friday, Brault threw his fastball to both sides of the plate and used his slider off that fastball. The plan is for those pitches to deliver quick outs.
His efficiency has improved from the season opener, when Brault needed 80 pitches to finish four innings. On Friday, Brault used 100 pitches to get through six innings, throwing 65 of those for a strike. The percentage of pitches Brault has thrown for a strike has increased in every outing this season. He allowed eight walks over his first three starts this season, but only one in his last outing.
“In Spring Training he did a great job of getting more athletic with his delivery,” Indianapolis pitching coach Stan Kyle said. “In his first game here I thought he was trying to get synced up too much. He’s a very athletic kid and he has to take that athleticism into the game.”
Brault has used his athleticism more within his delivery, which has led to his increased efficiency and improved results. In turn, his confidence has increased, as well.
“When it comes down to it, and I’m on the mound, I don’t feel anybody is going to get a hit,” Brault said. “Because if you do then you’ve lost already basically. It’s kind of an overall being able to be present and knowing my game plan is going to work. Even if I give up a two-spot or three-spot in an inning, not changing my approach and trying to be someone I’m not. And being confident in my approach. I’m confident in myself, but needing to stay in the same approach is what I’m focusing on.”
Brault was in the running to earn the final starting spot in the Pirates’ starting rotation but was sent to Triple-A Indianapolis to begin the season. His goal in Triple-A is to try to make the Pirates realize he’s a viable option.
Brault might be the best option in Indianapolis right now if the Pirates need to call someone up to the major leagues. Drew Hutchison has been inconsistent, while Tyler Eppler hasn’t had many Triple-A starts. Clay Holmes hasn’t had many Triple-A starts, and he didn’t make it out of the first inning in one recent start.
“They want me to come down here to start, and get my innings,” Brault said. “I think I’ve been given an opportunity to possibly earn my way back and that’s what I’m going to do. As a player we don’t get to choose when we go up. All I can do is be here and dominate while we’re here.”
Brault has the ability to be a future major league starting pitcher. If he can start putting together multiple starts like the one he just had, he could be the next pitcher promoted to the Pirates if a need arises.
