Oviedo adds 2-seamer to sinking 4-seam fastball

LAKELAND -- The Pirates have transformed into Sinker University, and Johan Oviedo just enrolled as the newest student.

Oviedo became the latest pitcher in Pittsburgh to embrace the sinker, debuting the pitch against the Tigers in his first start of Spring Training.

• Box score: Tigers 8, Pirates 7

“I really enjoy what I did in the offseason with it, and I feel more comfortable with it,” Oviedo said. “So, I want to incorporate it now because now it feels good to throw it. It’s a new weapon.”

Baseball Savant did not recognize Oviedo as having thrown a sinker, labeling each of Oviedo’s 12 fastballs as four-seamers. Following his start, however, Oviedo confirmed that he threw a mix of four-seamers and sinkers.

The metrics highlight how Oviedo incorporated the sinker in the Pirates’ 8-7 loss as well. On Wednesday, Oviedo’s fastballs averaged 21 inches of vertical drop. Compare that to last season, when Oviedo’s four-seam fastball had 19.5 inches of vertical drop, a difference that indicates Oviedo generated more sink.

Oviedo began incorporating a sinker at the suggestion of coaches upon being acquired from the Cardinals at the Trade Deadline. The Pirates suggested that Oviedo begin throwing a sinker because his four-seam fastball naturally sinks. Last season, Oviedo’s fastball had five fewer inches of rise -- or more sink -- than four-seam fastballs at similar velocities.

“The coaches that were working with me were trying to get me to throw a sinker because sometimes my fastball sinks,” Oviedo said. “It really had good numbers on the computer. They were like, “Why are you not throwing it with a [sinker] grip and try to get used to it and learn how to throw it?’”

The results of Oviedo’s first appearance with the sinker were rough. Oviedo allowed four runs on five hits in the first inning, one of those hits coming when left fielder Matt Gorski lost Jonathan Schoop’s fly ball in the sun and ended up with a ground-rule double. The right-hander bounced back with a 1-2-3 frame in his second and final inning of work.

“Definitely wasn’t the result that we want, but we executed the plan to throw strikes, try to get ahead, try to be ahead in the count,” Oviedo said. “They were aggressive most of the time. Just didn’t make that adjustment in the first inning, but came in the second and tried to move the ball more around.”

For Oviedo to have any shot at cracking the Opening Day roster, the results will have to look more savory over the next couple weeks.

Oviedo appeared destined to secure a spot in the starting rotation entering the offseason. The Pirates stretched out Oviedo in Triple-A Indianapolis upon acquiring him last season, and the right-hander impressed in a limited sample when the team called him up, posting a 3.23 ERA across 30 2/3 innings. Now, Oviedo finds himself as the odd man out.

With the Pirates signing Rich Hill and Vince Velasquez to one-year deals to complement Mitch Keller, Roansy Contreras and JT Brubaker, Oviedo could realistically begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis. Oviedo expressed his preference to start, but with relief experience under his belt, he’s willing to take on any role to pitch in the Majors.

“I’m ready to do whatever, to be honest, but since I got here, the plan has always been to be a starter,” Oviedo said. “I’m ready to be a starter. If they need me as a reliever, I will be there. All I want to do is compete and play the game. … We’ll see what’s going to happen. During Spring Training, I’m getting ready as a starter, and hopefully I have a shot as a starter.”