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Chad Kuhl relies on slider in return from Tommy John to pitch piggyback for Pirates
As the rain delay stretched past an hour, Chad Kuhl had a sense that he would be pitching when play resumed at the Pittsburgh Pirates’ home opener Monday night at PNC Park. Then manager Derek Shelton called the right-hander into his office, confirming both his suspicions and his comeback.
“That was pretty much it,” Kuhl said. “I was ready to go.”
Kuhl to see you back, man.@KuhlWhhip_11 takes the hill for the first time since June 26, 2018.We love to see it. ? pic.twitter.com/665D5U3LMD
— Pirates (@Pirates) July 28, 2020
Kuhl returned to the mound for his first major-league game since June 26, 2018 — two years to the day of his MLB debut — when he suffered the right elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery that sidelined him last season. In 3 2/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers, Kuhl allowed no runs, three hits, two walks and had four strikeouts. The final two batters he faced, Ryan Braun and Jedd Gyorko, struck out looking.
“It’s just really cool to be back out there,” said Kuhl, who has an 18-20 record, with a 4.32 ERA and 1.42 WHIP in 61 career starts. “I’m thankful for everybody who has invested the time in me — the trainers, all the staff, coaches — to get me back to playing today. I can’t thank my family enough for their awesome support through this whole thing. It’s been a long journey. I’m just super thankful to be back.”
Cap tip, @KuhlWhhip_11.Welcome back.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/dPmbEJFURJ
— Pirates (@Pirates) July 28, 2020
Shelton was impressed with Kuhl’s performance, noting that the additional time off from the sport’s shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic was “extremely helpful” for his build-up.
“I think it’s a credit to him, a testament to hard work,” Shelton said. “If anybody’s had arm surgery of any kind, it’s not easy to rehab from and it’s not only not easy to rehab from physically but mentally it’s a challenge too.”
That’s what Kuhl reflected on about his recovery, the grueling grind that is required. He shared how he started his rehabilitation in a sling before moving to a brace, worked up from plyometrics to throwing and built his arm back to a major-league level over 14 months.
“I think that’s the biggest thing mentally: It just feels so far away,” Kuhl said. “Once you go through it, it felt every bit as long as it was. I think that was the biggest obstacle, just being a long journey.”
So, Kuhl was thrilled that not only could he return to the Pirates but how he was able to throw his changeup, curveball and four-seam fastball with mixed success but turned to the pitch he calls Old Reliable, his slider, when he needed to get outs. Six of his seven swinging strikes were with the slider.
Tough loss last night. But, not to be lost in that.. @KuhlWhhip_11 was back on a big league mound for the first time in over 2 years. He was diligent, disciplined, and never lost sight of the goal during rehab. I missed watching that nasty slider!— Jameson Taillon (@JTaillon19) July 28, 2020
“Chad Kuhl was outstanding, coming back from what he’s done and first time being on the mound,” Shelton said. “I thought he executed pitches. I thought his ability to throw breaking balls really good (was good). So happy with the fact that his first outing out that he looked as good as he did. He did a really nice job.”
Kuhl pitched in piggyback with left-hander Steven Brault, who started the game and pitched two scoreless innings before rain delayed the game for 1 hour, 42 minutes. Throwing them in tandem proved to be effective for the Pirates, who allowed only one run in the first six innings of a game they would ultimately lose, 6-5, in 11 innings.
Brault welcomed back Kuhl, along with the competition he creates for the fifth spot in the starting rotation.
“It’s awesome to see him back out there throwing fuzz,” Brault said. “His breaking balls are disgusting. Just watching him compete — we call him ‘Chet,’ because he gets crazy on the mound — it’s really cool to see him back fully in his element, and I’m so happy for him. He’s clearly shown that he’s ready to be back.”
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