Nick Kingham, a fourth-round pick in 2010, was on the cusp of reaching the major leagues in May 2015 when he suddenly felt pain in his right elbow. Less than one month later, the right-handed starting pitcher underwent Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch in another game until the following July.
It took almost eight years from when he was drafted and three from his operation, but Kingham will finally join the Pirates. The 26-year-old arrived at PNC Park on Saturday and will be added to the active roster in time to start the series finale against the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. The Pirates will announce a corresponding roster move once Kingham is officially recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis.
Kingham, who will watch Saturday's game from a suite, worked out with the team before the game and was needed for the spot start because the Pirates played a doubleheader against the Tigers on Wednesday.
"I couldn’t be more excited," Kingham said. "Couldn’t be more prepared to come in and finally pitch at the big-league level. The length it took me to get here made me who I am and made me even more prepared than I ever would have been. I’m excited, I’m ready."
Kingham, a Baseball America top 100 prospect prior to the 2014 season, has a 1.99 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 27 strikeouts to seven walks in 4 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis this season. He was optioned to minor-league camp near the end of spring training after he allowed 12 earned runs in 12 1/3 innings.
However, he emerged as an option for the Pirates' rotation last season, when he had a 4.13 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 93 strikeouts to 29 walks in 20 appearances, including 19 starts, at Triple-A Indianapolis. His 118 1/3 innings weren’t a career high, yet it gave him the chance to rediscover what he had lost after sitting out for more than one full season. His four-seam fastball velocity was down to 91 mph after he reached 97 prior to surgery, and his command was shaky at times.
He seems to have cleaned up some of those issues, though. Clint Hurdle told reporters Saturday afternoon that Kingham is now throwing his four-seam and two-seam fastballs to both sides of the plate while commanding his curveball and changeup. Also, Kingham began throwing a slider after he was demoted from major-league camp last month.
His velocity has also started to increase, which has led to more strikeouts and put him in position for this spot start. Kingham seemed destined for an opportunity with the Pirates in 2015 after he pitched six scoreless innings during spring training. But he experienced pain in his elbow during his sixth start of that season, and he had surgery after doctors discovered he tore his ulnar collateral ligament.
"I think anytime a pitcher has to take a step back and deal with what Nick has had to deal with, it gets your attention," Hurdle said. "There may be a part of you that doesn’t take things for granted. … The realization there’s no guarantee on your next start, no matter if you’re good, pitching well and healthy. There’s no guarantee. So, just having that in your back pocket that the rent is due every day and you continue to go out and play. Maturity from that standpoint. I think he’s learned some things, some valuable lessons along the way. It’s time for him to put them in play up here."
Kingham split 2016 between rookie ball, High-A and Double-A, and he didn't reach Triple-A until last season. Despite his success, he wasn't an option for the Pirates' rotation this spring. After all, Ivan Nova, Jameson Taillon, Chad Kuhl and Trevor Williams returned to the rotation. Also, the club intended to use Joe Musgrove, whom they acquired from the Astros in the Gerrit Cole trade, as a starter.
Plus, Steven Brault and Tyler Glasnow, both starters, were put in the bullpen to serve an apprenticeship and be in position for a potential spot start. Brault rejoined the rotation in the second week of the season because Musgrove was placed on the 10-day disabled list, but he has a 5.06 ERA in 21 1/3 innings as a starter this season.
Facing a division rival Sunday afternoon could potentially be an audition for Kingham, since Brault continues to struggle. Musgrove won't return until the third week of May at the earliest, and the Pirates are unlikely to move Glasnow out of the bullpen. When Kingham was demoted this spring, he was told by Neal Huntington that he was on a list of pitchers who could help the Pirates this season.
His time has come, and he prepared by approaching Triple-A hitters as if they were in the major leagues.
"[Taillon] told me it doesn’t matter where you’re at, you can always pitch like a big leaguer," Kingham said. "I took every start, went out on the mound and pitched like a big leaguer with big league hitters in there. Some of them had successful big league careers and they’re trying to get back to it."