PITTSBURGH — Throughout a checkup cease at PNC Park throughout the Pirates’ final homestand, Johan Oviedo admitted that he needed to study endurance to assist get via the final two years of rehabbing from proper UCL surgical procedure.
“That was one of many issues that I used to be attempting to work on probably the most, and [one of the] issues that I really feel like that I obtained actually good at,” Oviedo stated Monday.
Oviedo has all the time had the aggressive edge, even on the times he was harm. His velocity held agency till the day he recorded his thirty second begin of 2023. Unbeknownst to Oviedo and the Pirates, his UCL was broken on the time and he would want surgical procedure that winter. He got here out of the gate robust in 2025 Spring Coaching till a proper lat pressure put him on the shelf. Even then, Oviedo made just a few extra pitches after the damage occurred, attempting to muscle via it.
However restoration and well being aren’t all the time issues of toughness and competitiveness. Typically it’s endurance and maturity, one thing that supervisor Don Kelly has seen from the right-hander on his path again to the Majors.
“We talked about that journey. Being down, [having] loads of time to assume, loads of downs, loads of nervousness, and he’s labored via that,” Kelly stated. “He’s talked about how one thing he discovered is endurance in coping with sure issues and going via the rehab. I believe that if you see the stuff that he has — how he goes about it, the depth, the physicality that he’s obtained on the market on the mound — [there’s] simply loads of good issues to place collectively to go along with the stuff. I believe he’s matured and discovered via the journey as effectively.”
Oviedo’s wait lastly got here to an finish on Monday, when he was activated off the injured listing and walked out to the mound to start out Pittsburgh’s sequence opener with the Giants. It had been 22 months since he toed the rubber at PNC Park. However he’s going to have to attend one other flip via the rotation to make a correct begin.
Sadly, Oviedo seemed like a pitcher who hadn’t thrown in a Main League recreation since Sept. 27, 2023. His location was spotty, he walked three batters and solely threw one 43-pitch inning. Paradoxically, the man who confirmed nice endurance to get again to the Majors admitted postgame that he felt rushed in his supply.
“My mechanics had been a bit bit rushed originally,” Oviedo stated. “It is extra about maintaining issues beneath management for subsequent time.”
Happily, Oviedo’s teammates had been there this time to select him up. The bullpen mixed for eight robust innings — capped by a scoreless body from Dauri Moreta, who was additionally making his first look at PNC Park since his Tommy John surgical procedure — and a Jack Suwinski seventh-inning homer made it a ballgame once more. Then, in a tie recreation within the backside of the ninth, Suwinski beat a Rafael Devers throw dwelling off an Isiah Kiner-Falefa floor ball to beat the Giants, 5-4.
“Undoubtedly loads of emotions,” Oviedo stated. “Undoubtedly not the outcomes that we wished, however obtained the chance and obtained the prospect. Quite a lot of pleasure.”
Ninth-inning heroics made it a cheerful return for Oviedo, however a lot concentrate on this membership now could be centered round 2026, whether or not it’s within the roster development or how a lot taking part in time sure gamers will get. Oviedo components into each conversations.
The Pirates dealt Bailey Falter to the Royals simply earlier than final Thursday’s Commerce Deadline, creating an open spot within the rotation for not solely the ultimate two months this yr, however doubtlessly past that. The Bucs view Oviedo as a starter shifting ahead, even because the group has developed an inflow of younger arms who’re both within the Majors or quickly might be. The following two months are an opportunity for him to determine himself in that function.
Whereas Monday’s begin left quite a bit to be desired, Oviedo was constantly pumping mid-90s fastballs and was within the zone together with his slider. He was flying open in his supply, however the precise stuff continues to be there, as is his well being.
“I really feel wonderful total,” Oviedo stated. “My physique feels good. My final outings had been actually good. I really feel command of my pitches, simply my feelings did not let me execute the way in which I actually wished it.”
Oviedo has proven that every one he wants is an opportunity to compete. He’ll get that chance down the stretch. It’s a payoff for not solely his work, but additionally his endurance.
“The true check was at this time,” Oviedo stated. “Undoubtedly did not win the way in which I wished or the way in which I hoped, however it was good to get out and take all that out, really feel the mound for the primary time shortly, being with the staff for the primary time. Like I stated, it is not what I wished, however it was a great way to let the whole lot out.”
