Pirates pitcher Johan Oviedo return to majors, set to make 2nd start of season

Right-handed pitcher Johan Oviedo will make his second start of the season Wednesday afternoon when the Pittsburgh Pirates host the Toronto Blue Jays, Pirates manager Don Kelly said Tuesday afternoon at PNC Park.

Oviedo joined the team in Pittsburgh ahead of Tuesday’s matchup against the Blue Jays but has not been activated. Kelly said a roster move will be announced ahead of Wednesday’s game. Oviedo will match up against Blue Jays right-hander Chris Bassitt.

Because Oviedo was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 5, a day after his season debut against the San Francisco Giants, a player will need to be placed on the injured list to open an active roster spot. When players are optioned to the minors, they must remain there for at least 15 days but can be recalled if there is an injury.

After missing last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Oviedo was on pace to contribute to the Pirates this season. However, a right lat injury in spring training forced him to miss considerable time. He was placed on the 60-day IL on March 3 and started a rehab assignment with the Florida Complex League Pirates on June 30.

Oviedo made six starts and pitched 17 1/3 innings across four minor-league levels before making his season debut Aug. 4. He lasted one inning and threw 43 pitches while allowing two earned runs on two hits and three walks. He struck out three of the eight batters he faced.

“I think going through what he went through with the Tommy John, the lat, the fight that it takes, the journey to get back, he was so amped up,” Kelly said. “Honestly, what happened wasn’t planned, from him, first of all, but then from us. We were just in a spot where we had to make a move and get a fresh pitcher up.”

During his latest stint in Indianapolis, Oviedo made two starts and threw 8 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs, six hits and three walks while striking out 15. In his last start with the Indians, Oviedo threw five innings and gave up two home runs.

“I’m really proud of him,” Kelly said. “He went down and handled what he needed to with the competitiveness that he consistently shows. I’m just really proud of the way he handled that because it’s not easy to do. Going through that whole journey to get back here, and then you pitch one inning and it doesn’t go the way you planned and you find yourself back in Triple-A.”

The Pirates’ starting pitching rotation has fluctuated since Bailey Falter was dealt to the Kansas City Royals at the trade deadline and Andrew Heaney was relegated to the bullpen. So, Oviedo’s return addresses a need as the Pirates approach the final month of the season.

However, Kelly wasn’t committing to Oviedo filling the current spot in the rotation for the remainder of the season as the franchise looks to allow younger pitchers to show their capabilities.

“I don’t want to get too far ahead,” Kelly said. “I think looking to tomorrow and then continuing to map out exactly what that is going to look like, it’s probably going to be hard to plan from now until the end of September on how we adjust, adapt. We’ve talked about some guys that may be on inning limits and how we continue to adjust that will be fluid as we go.”