The return from Tommy John surgery might seem routine these days, but it requires an intense focus from the player in recovery. Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitching prospect Aaron Shortridge found this out in his return from the procedure over the last two seasons.
“I went into it thinking it wouldn’t be very challenging,” said Shortridge, who underwent surgery in 2021. “I’ve always been able to throw strikes and have really good command and pretty effortlessly throw 90 plus miles an hour since I started becoming a professional.”
Shortridge returned from surgery in June 2022, joining the Double-A Altoona Curve. His velocity was down, and his control was off in that return, both uncharacteristic of his pre-surgery self. He realized that he needed to start from the ground up in his return.
The Pirates drafted Shortridge in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, out of UC Berkeley. He’s entering his age-27 season, receiving an invite to MLB Spring Training, and a unique slow-and-steady approach.
“I view myself as a turtle: Slowly becoming the best pitcher version of me I can be,” said Shortridge.
A turtle, you say?
“I’ve just kind of always been a late bloomer, moving slower,” said Shortridge. “But the consistency of days in a row of working toward something, you end up being a little bit better as time goes on. It’s been nice to see that since coming back from Tommy John.”
The 2023 season saw the velocity return for the 6’ 3”, 215 pound starter. Gone were the upper 80s of his 2022 return. His velocity at the end of last season was in the low 90s, touching 95 for the first time ever. In one of his final starts with Altoona, he was sitting 92-94 with ease on his body. Shortridge works primarily off his fastball, so the return of that pitch is essential to his long-term success.
“What I like to do with my heater is not let hitters eliminate one side of the plate,” Shortridge explained with his scatter-plot approach. When I spoke with him at the end of the 2023 season, he mentioned a start where that plot chart was everywhere as a positive.
“There was not one consistent spot I was hitting, it was all over the zone,” said Shortridge. “To a hitter, that’s like ‘oh shit, I can’t eliminate anything.’”
The development of his slider was a focal point in 2023. Shortridge throws a curveball and a changeup as offspeed pitches, but needed a reliable offering to complement the heater.
“I’ve been focusing on throwing a really good breaking pitch,” said Shortridge. “That’s been the slider.”
The pitch resulted in his best strikeout rates of his career. Shortridge had a 19.5% strikeout rate in Altoona in 2023, which was slightly higher than his rate in High-A in 2019, prior to the pandemic and the Tommy John that derailed his progress.
The fastball/slider combo could give him a future as a multi-inning reliever in the majors, especially if the control is working. Shortridge still aims to be a starter, and could fill that role in Indianapolis in 2024, with a shot to join Pittsburgh as depth.
“I feel like I’m starting to get back into the old guy I was,” said Shortridge. “Consistent and throwing a lot, eating innings, just doing my job, setting my team up to win.”
THIS WEEK ON PIRATES PROSPECTS
**The History of Anthony Solometo’s Funky Delivery
Read about how Anthony Solometo developed one of the funkiest deliveries in the game and reached the upper levels as one of the top prospects in the Pirates’ system.
**Braxton Ashcraft Returned From Tommy John With MLB Stuff
Braxton Ashcraft is looking like he could help the Pirates in 2024, with the help of three plus offerings.
**Thomas Harrington Emerged as a Top Ten Prospect in His Pro Debut
He’s down with a shoulder issue right now, but Thomas Harrington showed he was a top ten prospect in the system with his 2023 debut.
**J.P. Massey Shows His Future Potential During Eventful 2023 Season
After a trip to the MLB Future’s Game, and a full season in A-ball, J.P. Massey is showing off potential that could lead to a future in Pittsburgh.
**Jackson Wolf’s Elevator Delivery Explained
Solometo isn’t the only lefty with a funky delivery. Read about Jackson Wolf, who the Pirates acquired from the Padres last year at the deadline.
**Aaron Shortridge Progressing Steady As a Turtle – READING
Entering his third year removed from Tommy John surgery, Aaron Shortridge is starting to feel like his former self.
