Much was made of Michael Perez's defensive skills when the Pirates claimed him off waivers on Oct. 30, 2020, shortly after he helped win the American League pennant with the Rays. That defense is paying dividends for Pittsburgh’s pitching staff, especially in one crucial spot.

Perez sits at zero runs from extra strikes -- not a bad sign, as 31 of 58 catchers sit at that mark. Where he’s really impressed, however, is framing high pitches. Perez’s 68.8 percent strike rate around the upper-middle border (Zone 12 in Baseball Savant’s nomenclature) is the best in the Majors.

Manager Derek Shelton, who was a hitting coach with the Rays from 2010-16, understands how Perez got to this point.

“His effectiveness with the high pitch shouldn't surprise anybody, considering where he came from,” Shelton said. “Tampa [Bay] was really good at that, and they teach that.”

The elevated fastball is a key offering for quite a few pitchers on the Pirates. When Mitch Keller flashes his best stuff, it tends to be anchored by the high fastball. Sam Howard, a two-pitch reliever, has his slider play best when he can effectively go up with his heater, leading to a strong season so far. Even Trevor Cahill, who doesn’t reach high-velocity marks, also relies on the occasional high four-seamer.

Perez is also tied for seventh in the Majors at framing in the lower zone, which sinkerballers like Cahill and control pitchers like Wil Crowe benefit from.

With Jacob Stallings as the everyday starting catcher and Perez as the backup, the tandem gives the Bucs two defense-savvy options to choose from each game.

“It’s one of the reasons we identified him when we acquired [Perez]. We knew he had elite pitch-framing skills,” Shelton said. “We're very fortunate in that the two guys we have are very good at that and it helps out our pitchers.”

Oviedo adjusting to ‘pen
Starting work is a taxing affair for a pitcher, as Luis Oviedo knew from rising through Cleveland's ranks as a prospect. But bullpen work and the grind of the daily possibility of pitching is also a physically demanding process.

Oviedo, a Rule 5 pick by the Pirates this offseason, has been employed as a reliever who can go two-plus innings. He made four appearances in a two-week span in April, then he didn’t see another game for 17 days.

“I had a conversation with him before [the time out of action], like his last outing,” Stallings said of Oviedo. “He just said he was tired, and he was still trying to get used to the role of a reliever and the routine and all that.”

Fortunately, there are a lot of guys in the Pirates’ bullpen he can learn from. Chris Stratton made the transition from starter to reliever. So did Howard, Kyle Crick, Michael Feliz, Clay Holmes and Duane Underwood Jr., among others. Cahill has bounced between starter and reliever throughout his decade-plus in the Majors.

Oviedo also has some experience to draw on, as he pitched nine times out of the bullpen with Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason.

“I think there are some challenges with that [transition] with any bullpen guy, much less a young bullpen guy,” Shelton said. “… He has a general idea of doing that, and I think he and  [bullpen coach Justin Meccage] have had a lot of conversations about what that routine should be.”

Honorary Bat Girl
The Pirates joined Major League Baseball in having an Honorary Bat Girl for Mother’s Day on Sunday.

Pittsburgh’s selection this season is Lesley Kaminski. She’s battled breast cancer over the past year, and she recently completed chemotherapy in her journey back to full health. Kaminski, the mother of 3-year-old Cora, is an English teacher at Norwin High School in Irwin, Pa., and an assistant coach for its varsity girls soccer team.

The Pirates will also join the 30 MLB clubs in the league’s “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer” initiative, a tradition since 2006. Players will sport pink wristbands and swing pink bats to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer treatment and charities, and items will be auctioned off to benefit Stand Up to Cancer.

Since the Pirates are on the road against the Cubs on Sunday for Mother’s Day, they will honor Kaminski on Sunday, May 16.