Pirates A to Z: Pitching out of bullpen was a big adjustment for Rule 5 pick Luis Oviedo

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z: An alphabetical player-by-player look at the 40-man roster, from outfielder Anthony Alford to pitcher Miguel Yajure.

Player: Luis Oviedo

Position: Pitcher

Throws: Right

Bats: Right

Age: 22

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 235 pounds

2021 MLB statistics: Oviedo was 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA and 1.99 WHIP in 29 2/3 innings over 22 appearances.

Contract: Not eligible for arbitration until 2024.

Acquired: In a trade with the New York Mets, who selected Oviedo from Cleveland with the ninth pick of the 2020 Rule 5 Draft.

This past season: Oviedo received call from his agent last December with the news that the New York Mets chose him in the Rule 5 Draft. As Oviedo shared his new team, the destination took a detour.

“To be honest, it was a bit funny, but also a bit weird,” Oviedo said through interpreter Mike Gonzalez. “Here I am, contacting my family, everyone’s rejoicing with me, and then all of a sudden I get another phone call to tell me that I just got traded to the Pirates.”

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington called Oviedo one of the better pitching prospects in the 2018 New York-Penn League short season and 2019 Midwest League, thanks to high-90s four-seam fastball that he paired with a two-seamer and a hard breaking ball. Concerns about a back injury were alleviated during winter ball in his native Venezuela.

Luis Oviedo, Nasty 81mph Breaking Ball...and K strut. pic.twitter.com/qRmCxJCcy8

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 6, 2021

“He’s a guy (who) we feel could come in and compete for a job on our major league staff,” Cherington said. “We see him as a guy who has a chance to start, long term. In terms of 2021 on our major league team, probably more than likely it’s a bullpen role, but we’ll see. …

“He has the pitches to be a starter. He certainly has the pitches to be a multi-inning reliever. If he’s doing what he’s capable of doing, we think he has a case to do that in the major leagues in 2021. We’ll certainly give him every opportunity to do that.”

The Pirates did just that, despite Oviedo arriving late to spring training. He made his Grapefruit League debut on March 23, earning a save in a 6-5 win over the Baltimore Orioles. Per Rule 5 guidelines, Oviedo was required to spend the season with the Pirates or be returned, so he made the jump from High-A to the major leagues.

That didn’t faze Oviedo, who wasn’t short on confidence.

“To be honest with you, I do recognize that, to many people, it could look like a large leap,” Oviedo said. “But if I can be very authentic and genuine with you, I feel very equipped, mentally and physically. I feel prepared.”

Luis Oviedo was making hitters look silly in his MLB debut. pic.twitter.com/F6T76AHp1g

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 3, 2021

Oviedo made his major league debut April 3, throwing a scoreless eighth inning in a 5-1 loss at the Chicago Cubs. He got Jason Heyward and David Bote to ground out before getting Ian Happ swinging so hard on a third strike that his bat went flying into the visiting dugout at Wrigley Field.

“When I think about the whole entire outing, it was just an emotional place for me, especially because this is a dream I’ve had since I was a child,” Oviedo said. “It was very special to me. The situation now is filled with a lot of emotion, a lot of excitement to be able to get to that point and that meant everything to me.”

Pitching out of the bullpen was an adjustment, and Oviedo didn’t fare so well as the Pirates lost in each of his next six appearances. He struggled in a 6-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on April 22. He allowed five runs on five hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.

It wasn’t until May 14 against the San Francisco Giants that Oviedo finally found some success. He gave up the go-ahead a run in the 11th inning when Austin Slater singled in inherited runner Brandon Crawford, but Oviedo got Mike Yastrzemski to ground out to second base with runners on second and third. When the Pirates tied it on Adam Frazier’s triple and won on Gregory Polanco’s walk-off sacrifice fly, Oviedo earned his first major league win.

“That’s not an easy spot for a 21-year-old kid,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He came in, and he minimized the damage. I think the big thing in the extra-inning situation is he kept them from scoring. If you leave it at one, then you give yourself a chance.”

The Pirates didn’t give Oviedo many chances. He appeared in only 22 games, and spent a stint on the injured list with a left quad strain that required a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis.

Luis Oviedo, Nasty 81mph Breaking Ball...and K strut. pic.twitter.com/qRmCxJCcy8

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 6, 2021

Oviedo averaged 9.4 strikeouts per nine innings but also allowed 7.9 walks per nine. He gave up four or more earned runs four times and had three or more walks three times. He also had three games with three or more strikeouts, including four-strikeout performances against Cincinnati on April 5 and Miami on June 6.

Yet the Pirates protected him, keeping Oviedo on the 40-man roster.

The future: Pitching out of the ‘pen was a major adjustment for Oviedo, who had started 54 of 62 games in the minors. It helped Oviedo to pick the brains of veterans Richard Rodriguez and Duane Underwood Jr.

“A lot of the guys have been pouring into me, teaching me about the mindset, the preparation, how to see the game from that perspective,” Oviedo said. “It’s definitely a difference. It’s definitely a little bit challenging, but I’m getting equipped and being surrounded by good guys sharing a lot of wisdom with me.”

Now that the Pirates stashed him for a season, they can decide whether Oviedo’s future is pitching out of the starting rotation or the bullpen and prepare him for a full spring training to compete for a roster spot.