BRADENTON, Florida: During his first exhibition start today, Cole Irvin routinely disposed of the six Pirates hitters he faced, displaying a notable boost in velocity.
With a 95.3 mph sinker, 92.2 mph fastball, and 88 mph cutter, Irvin recorded three strikeouts. His four-seamer had a 95 mph touch.
Compared to the 2023 season, all five of his pitches displayed an increase. The cutter deviated from the usual by 3.5 mph.
“I feel good,” he declared. “All in all, quite fortunate. Much of the off-season labor is beginning to bear fruit. That’s what I think the cause is. Since I didn’t give myself a break since I was so focused on improving, my offseason was longer than usual. And thus far, we’re beginning to observe the labors of the work, and I’m just thankful for the gifts of God.”
James McCann, the catcher, stated, “He’s in great shape.” “I am aware that he performed a few minor mechanical adjustments, which resulted in him… After speaking with him, I don’t believe he tried to accelerate. I believe it’s merely a result of the few projects he worked on during the summer. He looks fantastic.
Irvin claimed to have lost 12 to 15 pounds by following a healthier diet and going to strength and conditioning classes. He also claimed to have “lifted more weight than I ever have” and to have worked on his pitching and delivery.
“I just cleared a lot of stuff,” he remarked. “I’m relieved that the effort is beginning to pay off. There are still many spring training sessions left, and I’m just trying to maintain it and putting my best foot forward.”
With Kyle Bradish and John Means headed to the injured list, Irvin is set up to rejoin the rotation as long as he impresses in camp. He has the inside track, along with Tyler Wells.
Today’s results were encouraging to Irvin, who otherwise has relied on live batting practice to see results and get feedback.
The radar readings also provided further proof that he’s a different pitcher than the one who was optioned after three starts last season.
“I’m not striving for that, I’m not shooting for that,” he said. “Just trying to be a better version of myself than I was last year, and I was pretty good in that second half. So, just trying to build on good things and good habits.”
“He’s a big piece for us, man,” McCann said. “I really think that, he pitches like he did today, that’s going to be huge for us. Obviously, he has a history of throwing the ball well when he was in Oakland. Last year, there were signs of it, and I think he can be a big piece for us.”
Irvin threw 14 pitches, 10 for strikes, in both innings. Left-hander Keegan Akin replaced him in the third.
“Good day of work,” Irvin said. “Didn’t throw a couple pitches that are new to the repertoire, so bullpens this week I’m going to throw it a little bit more. There’s areas I’m going to keep working on and keep improving.”
The game was scoreless until the seventh inning, when Coby Mayo walked, Tyler Nevin singled and Enrique Bradfield Jr., last year’s first-round draft pick, reached on an infield single and forced shortstop Sergio Alcantara into a throwing error. Bradfield stole second base.
The kid’s blazing speed isn’t exaggerated.
Pittsburgh didn’t have a baserunner until Tucker Davidson walked first baseman Rowdy Tellez with one out in the fifth inning. Connor Joe broke up the no-hit bid with two outs on a shot to the left side of the infield that third baseman Jordan Westburg couldn’t corral.
Irvin and Pirates starter Mitch Keller both threw 14 pitches, 10 strikes, in the first inning. Keller finished with 30 pitches in two frames, allowing one hit, walked two and striking out two.
Second baseman Nick Maton made a diving backhand stop of Ke’Bryan Hayes’ scorching ground ball to end the bottom half of the inning.
The Orioles acquired Maton (pronounced MAY-tahn) from the Tigers on Feb. 7 for cash considerations. He made his first Opening Day roster last spring and is trying to head north with the Orioles in a utility role.
Maton lined a Keller cutter to Tellez to strand two runners in the second inning.
Jorge Mateo didn’t lose a step over the winter. He lined a ball into left-center field with two outs in the second and turned an apparent single into a standup double. Sam Hilliard walked before Maton batted.
Colton Cowser, who delivered a two-run, walk-off homer yesterday, walked in his first two plate appearances today from the leadoff spot. He swiped second base in the third inning.
Hilliard, serving as designated hitter today and trying to make the club as a reserve outfielder, walked in his first two plate appearances. Westburg reached on an infield single.
Heston Kjerstad grounded a single into right field in the sixth inning for the third Orioles hit of the afternoon.
Akin retired the Pirates in order in the third on fly balls to right, center and left. Bryan Baker breezed through the fourth, getting a strikeout on a pitch timer violation.
Luis González surrendered a leadoff double to Nick Gonzales in the sixth and escaped the jam.
* The Orioles defeated the Pirates 2-0 and improved to 2-0 in the Grapefruit League.
Wadisson Charles inherited a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh and stranded two runners after a single, stolen base and two-out, seven-pitch walk. Ryan Long retired all six batters he faced with two strikeouts to record the save.
Nevin led off the ninth with a single to make him 2-for-2, and he scored on Maverick Handley’s single.
Manager Brandon Hyde liked the way Irvin worked inside to right-handed hitters.
“His fastball’s up to 95, at least on the gun we’ve got here,” Hyde said. “Had a really good fastball. I thought he mixed well. I thought he and Mac worked really well together. It was nice seeing him work both sides of the plate like he did.
“When he did that last year, he had success for us, whether it was a four-seamer or the cutter into righties. That was a point of emphasis and he did that really well today.
“He came in in great shape, I think he learned a lot from last year, and did a great job making some adjustments this offseason. The velocity is up early and that’s good to see.”
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