Kevin Gorman’s Take 5: Steven Brault saves the day in a non-rain delay at Pirates camp

The Pittsburgh Pirates opened training camp at PNC Park to select local media for the first time, and the four-hour window included a rain delay with no rain followed by a simulated game in a steady drizzle.

And just when we thought this shortened season amid the coronavirus crisis couldn’t get any weirder, Steven Brault saved the day by talking about the possibility of pitching in a piggyback with Chad Kuhl.

The strategy would be to have one of them start, and the other come on in relief, preferably in a designated inning. It’s a creative solution for a pitching staff that lost starters Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer for the season to surgery and has two other starters recovering from injuries.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he discussed the idea with Brault, a left-hander who was shut down in spring training for shoulder soreness, and Kuhl, a right-hander returning from Tommy John surgery. Shelton also is considering other potential piggyback partners, as well.

“With those two guys specifically, if it was a situation where we did do that with them, a right-hander and a left-hander with their repertoires and how they attack hitters, it’s an interesting mix for us,” Shelton said. “Like I’ve stated numerous times, we’re going to get creative with that fifth spot. So there’s a multitude of ways we can go with that.”

When it comes to interviews, Brault is a top-of-the-rotation starter.

Between the rain drops. pic.twitter.com/I9H0alBoKo

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 8, 2020

1. Taking a ride: Shelton might have briefed him on the piggyback, but Brault didn’t know the particulars of the arrangement, such as who would start the game and who would pitch in relief or how many pitches or innings they would throw.

“I actually don’t know,” Brault said. “It will be interesting because, like I said, I’m actually not sure if that’s what we’re going to do. If we do, part of that is because we’re starting at 30 people (on the roster for the first two weeks of the season), so you have the extended bullpen and also nobody is built up quite as much as you would be if you were pitching a whole season.

“I would assume that even if we do that in the beginning, it’s probably not going to last very long just because as the roster goes down you can’t have guys who only pitch every five days just sitting around waiting. We have enough of those as it is. I don’t know how any of it is going to work, but Shelty isn’t an idiot so I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”

Pitchers can't hit this year, but can managers pitch? ? pic.twitter.com/K3Jai7sWLr

— Pirates (@Pirates) July 7, 2020

2. Hey, Jealousy: Brault credited Kuhl for being in a good place, “not only mentally but also physically.”

Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings described Kuhl’s stuff as “filthy” the other day, and Brault backed it up with his own scouting report.

“Chad’s always been a guy, he throws really hard. He’s got a good hard slider, but he’s really worked on his curveball a lot and he really likes it and how it plays off of his fastball,” Brault said. “He’s one of those guys, when he throws a bullpen, you’re just like, ‘He doesn’t miss a spot.’ It’s really frustrating to watch. He looks really good. I’m pretty psyched to see what he’s going to do this year for sure.”

Christopher Horner | Tribune-Review

The Pirates work out Tuesday, July 7, 2020, at PNC Park.

3. Built in Bradenton: Brault was one of a handful of Pirates players who remained at Pirate City after spring training was shut down, despite going six weeks without picking up a baseball.

Brault spent the ensuing six weeks working with Pirates bullpen coach Justin Meccage and Pirates senior coordinator of rehab and athlete development A.J. Patrick — whom Brault called a “genius” — on the biomechanics of his delivery to remain healthy longer.

“So instead of just making it about getting healthy, we also made it about improving and actually moving forward to get better by the time the season did start,” Brault said. “We really took into account of how our bodies worked to try to keep healthy moving forward. … So it was really good. I feel much better than I ever have, more confident, more strong and not just kind of flying everywhere like I used to do, which is nice.”

First Bullpen with the catcher back. Another check point in the rehab progression. Head down, keep growing and learning. Been fun to be putting in work with the guys again. No complaining from anyone, just getting after it and getting better. pic.twitter.com/QDZ5Ki2fcV

— Jameson Taillon (@JTaillon19) July 7, 2020

4. Catch me if you can: One of the fringe benefits of rehab in Bradenton for Brault was to play catch with Taillon every day, and they learned a lot about each other over four months.

Brault saw up close how Taillon, rehabilitating from a second Tommy John surgery, has shortened his arm path and “completely changed his way of throwing from where it was before.”

Taillon is on the 40-man roster for the camp at PNC Park and threw his first bullpen session to a catcher Tuesday.

“We’re at a point where we know each other so well that whenever we see something even the slightest bit off, we’re on top of it immediately. We’ve really been able to help each other,” Brault said of Taillon, the team’s MLB Players Association representative. “Also, Jamo is a really smart and fun guy. If you want to talk to someone about baseball, about what’s going on, he’s your guy. He’s a good boost for team morale. Generally, he’s kind of lame as a human, so whatever. But, no, it’s going to be fun to have him around.”

5. Double bummer: Brault might stand to benefit as much as anyone from the lost seasons of Archer and Taillon by returning to the rotation, but he isn’t happy about their season-ending injuries.

“You know, it’s a bummer,” Brault said. “That’s the No. 1 thing, how you’d put it. We all knew Jamo was going to be out this year. It was a tough blow to lose Arch. But we have guys that are ready to step up and ready to go.”

Brault mentioned lefty Derek Holland as “ready to go.” Rookie right-hander Mitch Keller, the team’s top prospect, also figures to start in the middle of the rotation.

New pitching coach Oscar Marin clearly has his work cut out for him, but Brault issued a warning about the Pirates pitchers: “We’re not going to be dying out there.”

But he also couldn’t help looking ahead to 2021.

“It’s going to be great when we have everybody back because Jamo’s our ace,” Brault said. “He’s a real top-of-the-rotation ace pitcher. Yeah, we would love to have him back. But we also want him healthy for the rest of his career. This is going to be one of those seasons where we have to make it work. Next year is going to be pretty sweet.”

Perhaps the Pirates can find a way to piggyback off their pitching this season. After all, Shelty isn’t an idiot so we’re sure he’ll figure it out.