Pirates sign 36-year-old ex-Red Sox knuckleballer Steven Wright

The Pittsburgh Pirates took a low-risk chance on knuckleball pitcher Steven Wright on Sunday, signing him to a minor-league contract, with an invitation to big-league camp.

It sounds like just another spring training transaction until you hear the rest of the story.

Five years ago, Wright was considered a promising knuckleball pitcher with the ability to work deep into games without the injury risk usually associated with those who regularly throw 95-mph fastballs.

Two months into the 2016 season, Wright had thrown two complete games for the Boston Red Sox – both victories — and lasted through the eighth inning once and the seventh twice.

Plus, he had the ear of Tim Wakefield, who used the knuckleball to get him through 19 big league seasons, 17 with the Red Sox and the first two with the Pirates in 1992 and 1993.

On May 30, 2016, when Wright threw 122 pitches and defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 7-2, he had a 2.45 ERA in 10 starts. A month later, he was named to the American League All-Star team. But his season ended Aug. 31 after he injured his shoulder diving back into second base as a pinch runner for David Ortiz.

He already had posted an impressive 13-6 record, 3.33 ERA (10th in the American League) and 1.245 WHIP while averaging 104 pitches over 24 starts. He crafted four complete games, a total that was second in the AL.

A Bleacher Report trumpeted Wright as “MLB’s New Knuckleball King.”

The Pirates aren’t expecting such numbers or a similar designation. But Wright is another option – albeit a 36-year-old option – for manager Derek Shelton and pitching coach Oscar Marin as they continue to assemble the staff in the final two weeks of spring training.

Wright has thrown only 6 1/3 innings in the past two seasons and hasn’t come close to his 2016 performance.

The following year, he pitched in only five games (1-3/8.25/1.875) before needing season-ending knee surgery.

Then, in 2018, he was suspended for 15 games for violating MLB’s domestic violence policy.

Wright was arrested at his Tennessee home in December, 2017, following an incident involving his wife, Shannon. He was charged with domestic assault and preventing a 911 call — misdemeanors in Tennessee — and released on a $2,500 bond.

Wright denied hitting his wife and the case eventually was retired by the Williamson County courthouse.

At the outset of the 2019 season, Wright was suspended 80 games without pay after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Before the suspension, the Red Sox were hoping Wright would be a big part of their bullpen. He ended up appearing in six games.

Wright denied purposefully taking a banned substance, but accepted responsibility for the positive test.

“We couldn’t figure out how this substance got into my body,” Wright told the Boston Globe.“But at the end of the day, it’s my responsibility. I know the truth. People close to me know I wouldn’t intentionally do this. Unfortunately, sometimes things get into your system.”

Wright, who’s been throwing the knuckleball since 2011, was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the second round of the 2006 MLB Draft. He was acquired by the Red Sox in 2012 and made his major-league debut in 2013.

In seven seasons from 2013-2019, Wright was 24-16, with one save, a 3.86 ERA and 271 strikeouts in 81 career appearances (44 starts).

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