P2Daily: Ricky DeVito Pitching Better In Longer Outings

Although he was acquired during last year’s trade deadline, Ricky DeVito didn’t make his pitching debut in the Pirates system until this season, pitching for the Greensboro Grasshoppers.

Usually the first thing you check after seeing a Greensboro pitcher with a high ERA is what his home/away splits are, as that can usually paint a clear picture as to what’s going on.

That hasn’t been the case for DeVito, who has posted an ERA of over five both on the home and on the road.

There is something interesting in looking at how DeVito has been utilized, however. Up until this season he had been primarily part of the rotation, with 13 of his 17 appearances coming as a starter.

In outings where DeVito has completed at least three innings, he’s posted a 2.70 ERA, while allowing six walks.

His total ERA on the season is 5.03, and has struggled with walks, issuing a free pass 14% of the time. Both of those issues seem cleared up in the six appearances that he’s thrown at least three innings.

Small sample size, yes, but the Pirates are clearly starting to stretch him out a bit more, so we will get the rest of the season to see how it plays out.

With a ’70-grade’ splitter according to FanGraphs, DeVito could be an interesting rotation option for the Pirates in Altoona next season if they continue to stretch him out and he has success doing so.

Other Notes

— Hudson Head is starting to hit for a little bit of power in the month of August, with seven extra-base hits so far, two of which home runs. It’s still not ideal, but he’s also striking out just 25% of the time, which is still an improvement off his season mark of 33.5%. He’s got the tools, it’s just a matter of making consistent contact.

–Johan Oviedo is starting to settle in with Indianapolis right now, striking out five in 2 2/3 innings on Sunday. The Pirates are planning on stretching him out and having him as an option for the rotation in 2023. The success he’s having right now in Triple-A may speak more to what he might the most success doing, however, as a multi-inning reliever.

He’s allowed just one run over 7 2/3 innings, striking out nine and walking only two. That’s with never pitching more than the 2 2/3 innings he pitched on Sunday.