PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Making his first rehab start, Chad Kuhl was sharp for AAA Indianapolis at St. Paul on Wednesday night. Kuhl went 3 scoreless innings giving up a hit (to Twins prospect and Plum native Alex Kirilloff), a walk and struck out 5. The righty threw 42 pitches, 27 strikes.
With the injury to Trevor Cahill, the spot in the rotation opens for Kuhl. The Pirates said a lot will go into where he makes his next start.
“We will see how he responds,” said Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk. “This is definitely a collaborative discussion. Not all things medical, not one box that we will check off and make sure he recovers well. The player is an important factor in that of how he feels. Not only from a physical standpoint, but a stuff standpoint.”
Out since April 18 with right shoulder soreness, Kuhl started the year 0-1 with a 6.32 ERA with 16 walks to 14 strikeouts in 15.2 innings.
“It’s a start-by-start type of scenario,” Tomczyk. “Our long main focus is the overall health, long-term, of Chad Kuhl.”
Second round pick comeback
Forgotten about 2016 second round pick Travis MacGregor threw 5 scoreless innings for AA Altoona Wednesday. The righty gave up a hit, walked two and struck out 7. It’s 19 strikeouts to 2 walks in 10.2 innings this season.
MacGregor had Tommy John surgery in 2019. Until this May, the 23-year-old had not pitched in a competitive game since 2018. That year he made 15 starts going 1-4 with a 3.25 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 63.2 innings.
Greensboro (High A)
· 21-year-old righty starter Tahnaj Thomas struck out 5, walked one, allowing 2 runs in 5 innings. The 6’4 Thomas has 20 strikeouts in 12 innings this year
Bradenton (Low A)
· 21-year-old righty Santiage Florez-3.2-IP/2-H/R/3-BB/7-K, season ERA is 2.84 with 20 strikeouts in 12.2 IP
· 19-year-old shortstop Dariel Lopez committed 3 errors