PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – First overall pick Paul Skenes is coming to Pennsylvania to pitch on Saturday. Could he travel two more hours west to pitch in Pittsburgh before getting shutdown at 20 innings?
Pirates manager Derek Shelton was a guest on the Cook and Joe Show on Tuesday.
"I think the biggest thing, we have to make sure, one, he's ready," Shelton told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan. "Number two, we have to make sure it's the right time for us and him.
There's a lot of factors. I understand people are excited to see him. That's good that they are excited to see him. We got to make sure that we are putting him and us in the best position possible."
Skenes has pitched four scoreless innings in three professional starts. He will go an inning or two for the AA Altoona Curve Saturday night at home.
Henry Davis
Shelton told Cook and Joe the organization is not concerned about long-term issues with Henry Davis. The Bucs 2021 first-round pick was put on injured reserve on Monday with a muscle strain in his hand. Since he won't take time off himself, the team is forcing him to rest his right hand.
"If you ask Henry Davis and spend any time around Henry Davis, he will tell you 100% it is not affecting him at all," Shelton said on 93.7 The Fan as Davis is batting .167 in his last 15 games. "What I will tell you is he's a 23-year-old kid that's been grinding with this hand thing and we needed to let it calm down so we can get back to taking the best swings he possibly can. Really appreciate how tough he is trying to grind through it, but needed to give him a break."
Catching is still an option for Davis, Shelton told the Cook and Joe Show he needs to continue to improve in the outfield, though. The Bucs manager believes he has too much work ethic and athletic ability not to get better.
Cautious with Cruz
First it was the thought Oneil Cruz would come back four months after breaking his ankle. That date passed on August 9. Then there were the sights of him taking ground balls and the seeming assumption he would play this season. When asked if 100% Cruz will play against this year?
"The hope is yes," Shelton said. "To say 100% on any injury, I don't think that's fair. But our hope is yes, that he plays this year."
Shelton confirmed Cruz has still not started his running progression. They can't narrow in on a date until after that begins.
Suwinski swoon
Batting .095 in his last 15 games with 22 strikeouts, Shelton said he knows Jack Suwinski's numbers aren't where they want him to be. He urges all to look at the full body of work and remember he was the fastest player to 40 home runs in the history of the Pirates organization.
"He's going through a tough stretch right now," Shelton told Ron Cook and Joe Starkey on 93.7 The Fan. "We have to stay positive with him. He's gotten to the point where we need him to be more aggressive. Also, he's a young kid. We forget he has just got over a year in the big leagues and is going to have some struggles. I think right now we have to stay with him and stay positive."
Optimistic with Endy
In his first 12 games, switch-hitting Endy Rodriguez was batting .222 with a .282 on-base percentage. He's picked up his game ever since. The Bucs 2022 Honus Wagner Player of the Year is hitting .300 this month with a .375 on-base percentage.
"We are really excited about him," Shelton said on the Cook and Joe Show on 93.7 The Fan. "I don't know how much you've been around him. You spend five minutes around Endy Rodriguez and you want to be around him more. He has that kind of personality."
"He continues to get better. He's 22-years-old and it's going to be fun to watch him grow into a man because he's going to fill out. He's going to get bigger. He's going to get stronger. I think we are going to have a really good player here."
