INDIANAPOLIS — Nick Kingham isn’t where he was prior to having surgery, nor where he wants to be as a pitcher.
But he’s getting close.
In his return from Tommy John surgery, Kingham has continually made small steps forward that are starting to equal a big gain. He opened the season with one start in Class-A Bradenton, before moving up to where he left off prior to his injury: Triple-A Indianapolis.
Then he had his first 6-inning performance, followed by allowing just one walk and one run in 6.1 innings in his next start. He almost made it seven innings, throwing 107 pitches against Toledo in late-June, the first time he eclipsed the 100-pitch mark.
Now, for the next step:
“The focus right now is on pitch execution and fastball command,” said Larry Broadway, director of minor league operations. “He throws it over very well, but some of them aren’t as quality of strikes that I know he would want them to be. So, really just sharpen up some pitch execution.”
Kingham is throwing around 65 percent of his pitches for a strike and has allowed just two earned runs over his last three outings – two starts and a relief appearance.
He’s walked 18 batters in 60.1 innings, but has allowed 60 hits. That’s partly where his fastball command comes into play. Too many of his fastballs are getting too much of the plate, and he’s looking to hit more of the edges.
“I feel like I’m throwing a lot of strikes, but maybe too many strikes or just not the right kind of strike that I really want to throw,” Kingham said. “(Broadway) is right, balls are getting a lot of the white and I’m trying to stay on the blacks more. Not nibble, but just get better execution on that pitch.”
That adjustment should simply necessitate Kingham making some slight mechanical changes.
“I think you just change your sights,” Kingham said. “Aim a little differently, maybe tinker with it a little bit and it will be a different outcome.”
Kingham has a 4.35 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP this season. If he can cut down on the number of hits allowed, that ERA will start to drop.
But the most important aspect of Kingham’s game this season is his health. He feels good and the value of that can’t be understated. After all, Kingham has “a new elbow now and I have to work with what I’ve got,” he says.
“I’m happy with everything,” Kingham said. “Everything feels good and that’s the most important thing. I feel great and I’m just trying to go out there and pick up where I left off when I got hurt. I don’t think I’m there yet and not where I need to be, so I’m continuing to try to progress every day when I come to the field.”
Kingham was starting to knock on the door of becoming a major leaguer after the 2014 season, when he had a 3.34 ERA with Altoona and Indianapolis; but his 2015 season was cut short with what eventually led to the need for Tommy John surgery.
It would be easy to think how close he was getting to the major leagues, and get down knowing he’s having to working from the ground up.
“It’s always in the back of your mind,” Kingham said. “You remember when you were your best, so you’re always striving for that and get past that. It’s always in the back of my mind and I’m trying to get to that point and beyond.”
Kingham continues to make strides that aren’t always as visible in box scores. Some outings that don’t look good in the final line score, are one inning away from being solid. If he continues to take steps forward, Kingham will work his way to the Pirates — whether it’s later this season or next year.
Neverauskas has mixed results in high leverage situations
Indianapolis, per organizational desire, has used all of its relievers in just about every type of role possible: multiple innings, save situations and high-leverage scenarios, as some examples.
Dovydas Neverauskas has had mixed results, putting together plenty of solid performances in high-leverage situations. But he’s also blown some late-game opportunities.
Neverauskas has not allowed a run in 12 late-inning, high-leverage situations. In this instance, those constitute any inning past the seventh where Indianapolis was either tied or ahead by no more than two runs.
In those situations, Neverauskas has not allowed a run in 12 innings. However, he’s also allowed a run in five of those situations — accounting for all of his five blown saves.
Pirates pitching coordinator Justin Meccage previously said Neverauskas and Edgar Santana are both capable of handling late-game situations.
“Stuff-wise, I think they’re both physical guys with the making,” Meccage said. “And the other thing is the mentality. They’re both pretty even-keeled type guys that can handle a lot of pressure.”
As the Pirates contemplate trading relievers Tony Watson and/or Juan Nicasio in the next two weeks, they have several intriguing options to replace them with.
Santana and Neverauskas are two highly-touted young prospects. If Neverauskas can put together more consistent outings together in late-game situations, his name might start being mentioned as a guy who could take over a Major League spot in the final months.
