Pirates Rookie Making Case for Future Opportunities
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PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates still have a few weeks left in the season, but they'll be looking ahead to 2027 and which players they see contributing to the team in the future.
One player that could be a part of the Pirates' plans for next season is right-handed pitcher Khristian Curtis, who has performed incredibly well in his two outings at the major league level.
Curtis threw five scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians in the second game of a double header at Progressive Field on July 18 in his MLB debut and then threw three scoreless innings vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 23.
It's a fantastic start for Curtis in his MLB career and one that the Pirates should reward going forward.
What's Made Curtis So Dominant?
Most pitchers don't come up to the major leagues and have this kind of success, but Curtis is making it look almost easy.
Curtis has allowed just two hits over eight innings, 24 at-bats and 27 plate appearances, as hitters have had little answer for how to handle him on the mound
He has relied on five pitches in his arsenal, but mostly on his four-seam fastball and cutter, throwing them around 65% of the time, and then bringing in his changeup, plus his slider and curveball.
What Curtis is doing quite well is getting quick outs and inducing weak contact, with just a 22.2% hard-hit rate in these two outings.
He also threw first pitch strikes to seven of the 10 Dodgers he faced, getting ahead early and giving him a favorable count to work with.
Curtis' eight scoreless innings to start a career are just a third of an inning less than what Bubba Chandler did last year, and he retired 18 consecutive batters before walking Dodgers second baseman Tommy Edman with one out in the eighth inning.
It's this combination of weak contact, a vast pitch mix and a little bit of confidence from Curtis that has allowed him to succeed.
“Just attacking hitters, getting ahead in the count, really anything," Curtis said to SportsNet Pittsburgh on his strategy postgame. "When I get ahead in the count, usually good things happen and just so attacking early, getting the offspeed in zone, being able to land breaking balls whenever I fall behind in the count. Really just attacking that’s the whole thing and just really, against lefties, getting the cutter in on the hands and being able to land the changeup. Location is really big.”
Curtis Deserving of Spot Going Forward
The Pirates' season hasn't gone the way they would've hoped, as they are 63-69 and 8.5 games back in the National League Wild Card race after getting swept by the Dodgers.
Pittsburgh can wave the proverbial white flag and give up, or they can find those players who want to contribute next season and are looking to progress in their careers.
Curtis should be one of those players, and Pirates manager Don Kelly is considering him as one a player that could occupy a spot on the 28th-man roster when rosters expand two players in September.
“Curtis did a really nice job in Cleveland and then again today and I think he’s definitely put himself in the conversation,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said postgame to SportsNet Pittsburgh. “He’s earned innings and as far as starts go, we’re going to keep beating that up for that spot and he’s definitely in the conversation.”
The Pirates have four different rookies they've utilized in this bulk role, including Curtis, with right-handed pitchers in Wilber Dotel and Antwone Kelly, plus left-handed pitcher Hunter Barco.
All of them will look more opportunities as the season goes down and should get them, but Curtis has set himself apart from the rest.
With Mitch Keller out for the season with injury, Curtis should earn starting opportunities and get the chance to prove he belongs at the major league level.
"I mean, that would be a dream come true, just to be a starter in the big leagues and be in a rotation and just be able to contribute every start,” Curtis said. "Just go out there and give my all and what happens, happens. I'd just give my best and go out there and have fun.”
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Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.