What The Pirates Could Do With Nick Kingham

Nick Kingham is set to make his first rehab start for the GCL Pirates. What the Pirates are able to do with Kingham could come into question, depending on how his arm progresses in his recovery.

Nick Kingham was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s number 74 prospect in baseball entering the 2015 season, and entering 2016 he ranked as the Pirates number 12 prospect. The former fourth round pick in 2010 stands at 6’6″ and 225 pounds. He has the size of a front line starter, but will likely be a mid rotation pitcher, and with the Pirates depth, a solid four starter. MLB Pipeline’s description of Kingham is very promising:

"When healthy, Kingham pounds the strike zone with an above-average fastball and changeup as well as a usable breaking ball. While not overpowering, he uses his 6-foot-6 frame well to throw downhill. He has good command, thanks to a free and easy delivery he repeats consistently."

Kingham would have been up pitching in Pittsburgh already, but the Tommy John surgery he had in May of 2015 has put a delay on that. The Pirates could use him right now too, as Francisco Liriano has control problems and Jon Niese has not pitched well at all. But Kingham won’t see the mound as a starter with the Pirates this season in all likely hood. The team will take their time with him, as they do all of their prospects.

However, there is one way the Pirates can have him play in competitive ballgames and limit his pitches, and that occurs in September. The roster sizes expand to 40 in that month, and with Nick Kingham already being on the 40 man roster, no move would have to be made to put him on the 40 man. The Pirates could use some relief help now, even with the pen settling in, and likely still could use it in September, no matter what trades or other acquisitions are made to the team.

Nick Kingham has sat mid 90s before his injury, and with his control he could be a weapon out of the pen for the team coming down the stretch, as long as they remain in contention. The 24 year old right-hander’s control is his bread and butter, as he has a career 2.6 BB/9. He also doesn’t give up home runs, having a career number of 0.7 in his career. Both these marks could really help him transition to the bullpen rather easily and for just a short period of time.

The move to the pen to start a career has worked well for other pitchers in the past, and so why not give Kingham big league experience in September with him pitching out of the pen and helping the Pirates? There are plenty of examples of pitchers who have come up, or been moved to the bullpen to work on things, and then placed back in the rotation.

Adam Wainwright first came up as a relief pitcher with the Cardinals in 2006, he posted a 3.12 ERA in 61 outings, and got four saves in the postseason , including striking out Carlos Beltran on a curveball, as the Cardinals won the World Series.

David Price came up and made five outings, one start, with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, along with a 1.59 ERA in five postseason appearances. Matt Moore did the same with the Rays in 2011, pitching in three games, one start, in the regular season, and two games in the postseason, one start.

The Pirates, who currently sit at 3.5 games behind the New York Mets for the National League Wild Card, and with an easy schedule they should find themselves into contention. September will be two months into Nick Kingham’s come back from surgery, and the best way of limiting his pitches is for him to pitch out of the pen. It’ll give the Pirates some needed help, as every team needs relief help in September, and at the worst, Nick Kingham wouldn’t need to pitch in close games. Even using him in mop up duty would allow Kingham to gain experience and help the Pirates more established nucleus of relievers in their run for the playoffs.

Nick Kingham is set to make his first rehab start for the GCL Pirates. What the Pirates are able to do with Kingham could come into question, depending on how his arm progresses in his recovery.

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