Pirates notebook: RHP Chad Kuhl returns from covid list, will work out of the bullpen

After a bout with covid-19, Chad Kuhl is back with the Pittsburgh Pirates but the right-hander will be used in a new role.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Kuhl, reinstated to the active roster on Friday after being out since Aug. 2, will pitch out of the bullpen “as of right now” as he works to build back up to a starter’s workload.

To clear room on the 26-man roster for Kuhl, the Pirates optioned right-handed reliever Cody Ponce to Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. Ponce was 0-3 with an 8.34 ERA in eight appearances, including two starts.

Kuhl (3-6, 4.43 ERA in 14 starts) has a five-pitch repertoire but leans more heavily on his slider, throwing it on 44.7% of his pitches, while mixing in a four-seam fastball, sinker and curveball. Kuhl has made 84 starts in five major league seasons but some scouts see him as having the potential to be a high-leverage reliever.

Shelton declined to divulge how he will use Kuhl, whose only work in relief in his career came when he twice pitched in piggyback with lefty Steven Brault last season after returning from Tommy John surgery.

“I think we’ll kind of play it by ear,” Shelton said. “I don’t think we’ve decided what we’re going to use him as right now. He will pitch out of the bullpen. We could see him in multi-faceted roles.”

Maintaining depth

The Pirates designated first baseman John Nogowski and outfielder Ka’ai Tom for assignment on Monday but both cleared waivers and were outrighted to Indianapolis.

Nogowski, 28, slashed .261/.325/.351 with seven doubles, one home run and 14 RBIs in 33 games with the Pirates. In his first 12 games with the Pirates, Nogowski batted .438 (21 for 48); over his final 21, he batted .127 (8 for 63).

Tom, 27, was a Rule 5 Draft pick who was claimed off waivers in April from the Oakland A’s and batted .152/.308/.261 with two doubles, a triple, two homers and 11 RBIs in 39 games with the Pirates. He spent two stints on the injured list.

“Anytime we can maintain depth is important,” Shelton said. “The fact that both of those guys cleared and are able to go to Indy is fortunate for us because we just maintained upper-level depth.”

Building a pipeline

MLB Pipeline released its updated top 100 prospect rankings, including five players in the Pirates’ farm system.

Catcher Henry Davis, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, is the Pirates’ new top prospect and ranks No. 23, followed by right-hander Quinn Priester at 53, shortstop Oneil Cruz at 57, second baseman Nick Gonzales at 68 and shortstop Liover Peguero at 93.

Davis and Peguero, who was acquired from Arizona in the Starling Marte trade in January 2020, are new additions to the top 100. MLB.com will reveal its farm system rankings next week.

Shelton credited Pirates general manager Ben Cherington for adding an infusion of talent to the farm system through trades and the draft.

“It’s very important,” Shelton said. “I think we’ve talked a lot about how we feel our major league club is gonna be built and what the lifeblood of our organization is. The other thing I think it speaks to is Ben lined out a really clear plan when he took the job. We’re starting to see how that plan is playing out. The fact that it changes even monthly in a positive way, we’re adding prospects to that list, I think it’s extremely important.”