Pirates notebook: Bryse Wilson back in the spotlight, will start Monday in Miwaukee

Bryse Wilson has been here before. Yes, literally, in PNC Park.

It was there one of the newest members of the Pittsburgh Pirates made his major league debut Aug. 20, 2018, for the Atlanta Braves against his present employer.

He was the winning pitcher in a 1-0 Braves victory, working the obligatory five innings to get the decision, allowing no runs on three hits and three walks, with five strikeouts.

Two years later, in front of 11,044 at Globe Life Field – a big crowd in the midst of a pandemic – he helped pitch the Braves to 10-2 victory in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series (six innings, one hit, one run). It gave the Braves a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven, but the Dodgers rallied and eventually won the World Series.

If events around him are happening at a maddening pace after he was part of the return in the Richard Rodriquez trade, Wilson, 23, appears capable of handling it. He was drafted in the fourth round as an 18-year-old in 2016, and he was in the majors two years later.

Now, the question arises: Can he handle the bats of the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night when he makes his Pirates debut as the starting pitcher in American Family Field?

Wilson was roughed up the Brewers two years ago, surrendering four runs and six hits in four innings.

“Not the same lineup, but similar,” he said.

The result Monday night matters, of course, but there also will be many more to follow for Wilson.

“He will make starts for us in the big leagues,” general manager Ben Cherington said Sunday on Sirius XM’s MLB Network Radio channel. “He’ll have a chance to be part of that rotation we’re looking to build and develop.”

The Pirates are reworking their starting rotation after the trade of Tyler Anderson and the anticipated return from injuries of Steven Brault and, possibly, Miguel Yajure later this month.

“I couldn’t be more excited. A lot of opportunities are available here,” Wilson said Sunday.

“It’s a great feeling (to be a part of the future). Take the weight off your shoulders, for sure. Helps your confidence a ton.”

Wilson most recently pitched last Monday, shutting out the New York Mets over three innings. He was the winning pitcher against the Pirates on May 22 in a 6-1 Braves victory, working 6 1/3 innings, allowing only one run on five hits, with four strikeouts and two walks. In seven starts with the Braves, he was 2-3 with a 4.83 ERA and 1.547 WHIP.

He said the trade caught him by surprise. He said he had not heard his name in any trade rumors.

“I got that phone call at 4 o’clock Friday (the trade deadline),” he said. “I was surprised and grateful for the opportunity.”

He was on a plane from Memphis within 24 hours — he split his time this season between Triple-A Gwinnett and Atlanta — and was in Pittsburgh by 5 p.m. Saturday.

“For me,” he said, “everything is just going so fast, go with flow and kind of just take everything in, get used to everything.”

He also has an air of confidence about him after spending parts of four seasons in the majors before his 24th birthday.

“For me, it’s just about trusting in myself and attacking hitters,” he said. “Don’t pick around the plate. Trust yourself and trust your judgement. The big thing for me is to continue to refine my mechanics.” 

Lots of needs

Cherington made six trades for 11 players last week, losing veterans Adam Frazier, Anderson, Rodriguez and Austin Davis, plus minor leaguer Braeden Ogle.

Cherington said the Frazier trade talks picked up early last week when other teams wanted to move quickly.

Speaking on his Sunday radio show on 93.7 FM, he said, “Teams know we are going to be open to taking calls on guys like that. We had a number of teams express interest. Picked up right after the All-Star break.

“Of the teams that were involved and interested, there were a couple that wanted to make a decision a little bit sooner. That put us in a position to make a call a little sooner. The Padres deal made the most sense for us.

“We have to think about, ‘Is this something that’s going to help the Pirates and build a winning team here? Or, is it not?’

“You have a line and if a team is willing to cross that line, it’s something we need to consider. We also need lots and lots of good players and we need time with lots of players.

“Eleven more players we get a chance to start coaching and start helping take a step forward.”

He said he was a bit chagrined when news of the Anderson trade talks with the Phillies leaked out before the deal was official. A medical issue with one of the players the Phillies were willing to send to Pittsburgh forced the Pirates to turn to the Seattle Mariners.

“That’s one you feel bad because of the players involved. Players are human beings,” Cherington said.

He described Anderson as a player with “a bit of an edge.”

“He’s a competitor and we probably need more of that.”

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