PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A number of tidbits from Derek Shelton's weekly appearance on the Cook and Joe Show on Tuesday. It includes an update on number one pick Paul Skenes along with KeBryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz. Why Mitch Keller is struggling and the impact of a pair of locker room leaders.
Skenes in Bradenton
Number one overall pick Paul Skenes is currently throwing in Florida. Shelton told 93.7 The Fan the 6'6" right-hander is coming off throwing a lot of volume in winning a national championship with LSU. The Bucs manager said the organization is determining when he's built up enough to make the next decision of when or if he will pitch competitively, and at what level he will start his career.
Hayes/Cruz
Shelton told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey shortstop Oneil Cruz still has not done any hitting in his rehab from his broken ankle in April. Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk said last week Cruz has done simulated hitting and he has taken ground balls with no issue. Shelton told the Cook and Joe Show until Cruz gets into full baseball activities, you can't even begin to put together a timeline for a return.
Third-baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes began his rehab assignment with AAA Indianapolis on Tuesday night attempting to finally recover from a back/hip injury.
Keller struggles
An All-Star for the first time, Mitch Keller's ERA keeps climbing like the temperatures. It started 3-0 and a 2.90 ERA in April, to four wins and a 3.00 ERA in May, June it was 3.56 and so far in July 7.04. Teams are hitting .292 against him with a 1.61 WHIP in July.
"Level of concern is not high," Shelton said on the Cook and Joe Show. "I think the biggest thing is we need to get back to a consistent mix. He got beat in this last Anaheim series with his secondary stuff. He didn't use his fastball probably as much as he should have or at appropriate times."
Shelton pointed out the home runs allowed against the Angels were on a breaking ball to the nine-hole player and a change-up to the lead-off hitter. Shelton said they've already had conversations about Keller sticking to the original game plan and make sure when they adjust in-game the fastball usage remains a priority.
Trade value
Playing in only a couple of games since Endy Rodriguez was called up, Shelton said catcher Austin Hedges has been team-first about the change. The Pirates manager said Hedges told him he was going to help Rodriguez become the best player he can be. He's not the only player potentially on the trade block that has helped younger players. Shelton is pleased with everything first baseman Carlos Santana has added to his team.
"One of the things Ben (Cherington) and I talked about in the offseason coming in was as many young players as we were going to have and as many young Latin players as we were going to have we needed a strong influence in there amongst the Latino ballplayers and Carlos has done as good if not better than advertised," Shelton told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan.
That doesn't mean if they can find value in a trade they shouldn't pull the trigger. While admitting both players have helped their youth, Shelton supports what is best for the organization at the trade deadline on August 1.
