Right the ship
After injuries slowed his progress, pitcher JT Brubaker looks to contribute.
Summer camp represents the longest amount of time Pirates pitcher JT Brubaker has spent in Pittsburgh.
The Pirates’ 2018 minor league pitcher of the year came to the city once when he won that award, once when he first signed with the Pirates, once for PiratesFest in 2019 and only one or two more times beyond that.
Because of that stellar 2018 season, in which he held a 2.81 ERA over 26 starts in Class AAA Indianapolis and Class AA Altoona, it seemed as if Brubaker would be a regular, or at least a debutant, in the pitching staff by this point. Surely he would have gotten a chance in 2019, given the bevy of injuries the starting pitchers suffered last year, but a right forearm strain derailed his season in April, and he never really got back on the mound.
Nevertheless, Brubaker is here now, vying for a spot on the 30-man, opening day roster.
“It’s just a hiccup last season with the injury,” Brubaker said. “When I was coming back, I felt like the same pitcher. I wasn’t manipulating anything. That was my one goal going into rehab was don’t change anything. Throw the way that you know how to throw. So I knew what type of test I could put on my arm, and it has worked out.”
That progress with his injury was aided during Brubaker’s time off between spring training and summer camp as well, as he spent his time in Bradenton, Fla., with several of the other pitchers and bullpen coach Justin Meccage.
He said he didn’t necessarily make any mechanical changes with Meccage but simply worked on the consistency in his movement and each of his pitches. That includes his four-seam fastball and curveball, which he recently added to his arsenal to help against left-handed hitters.
“For the guys down there, it was very beneficial,” Brubaker said. “Able to focus in and be able to fine-tune stuff on the mound, stuff in the weight room, stuff in general in the throwing program.”
Manager Derek Shelton said over the weekend he has been “very happy” with Brubaker.
“He’s done a nice job. He threw the ball well again [Sunday]. He threw three innings. He was extremely efficient. He threw 32 pitches, put the ball on the ground,” Shelton said. “Last time he threw, I was able to sit behind the plate, and he executed some really good pitches inside to left-handers. Today it was just as sharp. It’s good to see that he continues to build up and he’s maintaining his sharpness.”
The problem Brubaker might end up facing is that it takes a bit of imagination to see exactly where he fits on the roster right now.
At least four of the five starting rotation spots seem to be occupied. The fifth spot, as has been hinted at multiple times recently, could end up being something unconventional, such as two starters piggybacking with one another in the same game.
Shelton has said multiple players could participate in that piggybacking role. While it would make sense that Brubaker potentially could be one of those guys, he said Saturday that he hasn’t been approached about it.
Perhaps, then, Brubaker’s role, if he were to make the roster, would be as a long reliever in the bullpen. He did say, however, that he has been working on a five-day rotation during camp, maintaining the starter’s mindset.
That makes sense, given that Brubaker hasn’t relieved regularly since playing in the Arizona Fall League in 2017. That doesn’t necessarily mean he can’t do it; it would just be different.
Really, though, Brubaker doesn’t seem all too concerned on where he fits. He’s simply doing the best he can with the chance he has in front of him to make a good impression. It helps that he’s back at full health, of course.
“I believe I’m full-go. I feel like I’m ready to go, as much as I need to go. I feel healthy. I’m ready for competitive baseball to start back up.” Brubaker said.
“I see another door opening. Just doing what I need to do, keeping my head focused. So, it’s a great opportunity to be back here actually in Pittsburgh.”