Pirates pitcher JT Brubaker keeps head up after trying season

BRADENTON, Fla. — JT Brubaker could be bitter about how last season unfolded.

The Pittsburgh Pirates used 32 pitchers last year — not counting catcher Jacob Stallings and outfielder JB Shuck — because of injuries and poor performance. Furthermore, 14 pitchers started at least one game, though two were technically “openers.”

One year removed from being the Pirates’ minor league pitcher of the year, Brubaker almost certainly would have made his major league debut last season. Instead, he spent most of the year on injured list at Triple-A Indianapolis.

However, the right-hander opted to remain positive during a trying season.

“I never really thought about what might have happened,” Brubaker said during a break at the Pirates’ spring training camp. “I just concentrated on doing everything I could to get back on the mound and start pitching again.”

After making four starts to begin the season, Brubaker went on the IL on April 25 because of a strained forearm. He then pitched twice for short-season West Virginia in June before again feeling pain.

Brubaker did not pitch for the remainder of the season. However, he said he is back to full health this spring.

“I feel great,” he said with a smile. “The PRP shots have done wonders for my arm. I feel like I’m all the way back to where I was before I got hurt.”

PRP is the acronym for platelet rich plasma. PRP therapy uses injections of a concentration the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.

Brubaker, 26, got through his first outing of the Grapefruit League season without incident Sunday. He pitched one scoreless inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., allowing one hit and striking out one.

Potentially, Brubaker could be one player hurt by the changes the Pirates made during the offseason in which Ben Cherington replaced Neal Huntington as general manager, and Derek Shelton took over for Clint Hurdle as manager.

Brubaker was a personal favorite of Huntington, who often praised the Pirates’ sixth-round draft pick in 2015 without being prompted.

For his part, Brubaker said he is adapting well to Shelton, new pitching coach Oscar Marin and the rest of the revamped coaching staff.

“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Oscar so far,” Brubaker said. “He has some really good ideas.”

Brubaker showed in 2018 that he had developed a good idea of how to get hitters out when the Pirates honored him as the top pitcher in their farm system. He had a combined 10-6 record with a 2.81 ERA in 28 starts with Indianapolis and Double-A Altoona.

The former University of Akron standout seemed on the fast track to the major leagues last year, going 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA in those four starts with Indy before getting hurt.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Brubaker has added velocity since being drafted, and his fastball tops out at 99 mph. He added a cut fastball in 2018 that is tough on right-handers.

However, the development of the changeup likely will determine how much success Brubaker might have if he reaches the major leagues.

It seems Brubaker, ranked as the organization’s No. 18 prospect by Baseball America, might be destined to pitch for the Pirates, though. He grew up in Mansfield, Ohio, the same town that produced former Pirates relief pitchers Rick White and Marc Wilkins.

“It’s really neat that we’re all from Mansfield,” Brubaker said with a smile. “I’d like to carry on the tradition.”