Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Expected for spring training
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Oviedo (elbow) has been throwing from 120 feet four times per week, MLB.com reports.
Oviedo has progressively ramped up his throwing distance and has not experienced any documented setbacks. He is expected to be ready for spring training, though his role on the team is unclear given the number of options the Pirates are projected to have for the rotation.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Extends flat-ground distance
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Oviedo (elbow) has increased his throwing distance off flat ground to 105 feet as of Aug. 2, MLB.com reports.
Oviedo has been slowly increasing the distance in which he's playing catch since being cleared to begin a throwing program May 20, approximately six months after he underwent Tommy John surgery. The right-hander is hopeful to be fully cleared for spring training in 2025, but he'll still need to resume mound work and face hitters over the offseason in order to enter camp with no restrictions.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Throwing from 90 feet
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Oviedo (elbow) increased his throwing distance to 90 feet to begin July, MLB.com reports.
Oviedo is progressing in his return from Tommy John surgery and recently increased his throwing distance from 75 feet. He is expected to be ready to begin the 2025 season.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Now throwing from 75 feet
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Oviedo (elbow) resumed throwing from 75 feet earlier this month, MLB.com reports.
Oviedo is likely to gradually increase his throwing distance off flat ground for at least another week or two before potentially graduating to throwing bullpen sessions. He'll miss the entire 2024 season while he continues his recovery from his Dec. 6 Tommy John surgery.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Begins throwing program
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Oviedo (elbow) began a throwing program last week at the team's facility in Florida, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Oviedo has begun throwing from 45 feet and will progress to 60 feet soon. He has already been ruled out for the entire 2024 season but is expected to be healthy for spring training heading into the 2025 campaign.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Set to resume throwing
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Oviedo (elbow) is expected to get clearance to resume throwing within the next week, MLB.com reports.
Oviedo will be out for the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in early December of 2023. He'll build back up slowly and is unlikely to appear in any game action until spring training next year.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Lands on IL
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The Pirates placed Oviedo (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Oviedo is set to miss the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in December, so his move to the IL is merely a procedural one. The transaction opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for left-hander Josh Fleming, whom the Pirates signed to a one-year deal Wednesday.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
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Oviedo (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
It was announced in late November that Oviedo would require the reconstructive elbow procedure, and the long road back to full health can now get underway. The 25-year-old right-hander is certain to miss the entire 2024 campaign.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Requires TJ surgery
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Oviedo will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, Francys Romero of MLB.com reports.
Oviedo seemingly suffered an elbow injury in the offseason after getting through the 2023 campaign without any reported issues, and he's now in line to miss all of 2024. Oviedo put up a 4.31 ERA and 1.37 WHIP with 158 strikeouts across 177.2 innings last season, and his absence will surely be felt by a Pirates pitching staff that finished near the bottom of the National League in ERA (4.60).
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Tommy John surgery possible
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Oviedo is dealing with a right elbow injury which could potentially require Tommy John surgery, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Oviedo didn't battle any known elbow issues during the regular season, so this news comes out of the blue. Mackey notes that while nothing has been decided yet in regards to how the injury will be treated, Tommy John surgery "has been discussed." Oviedo would be sidelined until 2025 if that procedure is ultimately required. The right-hander went through ups and downs with the Pirates in 2023 but had a fairly encouraging season overall in collecting a 4.31 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 158:83 K:BB over 177.2 innings. It was more than a 60-inning jump from his 2022 workload.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Hit hard in Philly
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Oviedo did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing six runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings in a 7-6 loss to the Phillies. He struck out six.
Oviedo got off to a good start Wednesday, delivering three shutout innings before the Phillies tagged him for six runs across the fourth and fifth frames. Oviedo had allowed just one run over 11 innings in his previous two starts despite walking 10 in that span. The 25-year-old right-hander flashed some potential this season, though control issues have led to inconsistent results. Oviedo will finish the year 9-14 with a 4.31 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 158:83 K:BB across 32 starts covering 177.2 innings.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Tosses six scoreless frames in win
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Oviedo (9-14) earned the win over the Cubs on Thursday, yielding four hits and five walks while striking out five batters six scoreless innings.
Oviedo again struggled with his control, tossing just 50 of 93 pitches for strikes and issuing five walks for the second straight start. However, the Cubs couldn't take advantage of the free passes, as they failed to push a run across the plate. While Oviedo has handed out 10 walks over his past two outings, he's allowed just one run over 11 frames during that span while striking out 12 batters. It's unlikely that the right-hander will be able to see sustained success with such poor control, but he's managed a 2.30 ERA over his past five starts despite a 1.54 WHIP and 23:19 K:BB.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Overcomes struggles with control
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Oviedo allowed one earned run on four hits and five walks while striking out seven across five innings Friday against the Yankees. He did not factor into the decision.
Oviedo issued all five of his free passes in his first three innings of work, and he has now allowed 12 walks across his last 12.1 frames -- spanning three starts. He managed to avoid significant damage Friday thanks to some timely strikeouts, and he managed his highest punchout total in an outing since July 15. Oviedo has had an inconsistent season, but he's shown flashes of being an effective starter and has maintained a 4.27 ERA and 1.36 WHIP across a career-high 166.2 frames.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Inefficient in no-decision
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Oviedo allowed three runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out four over 3.2 innings in a no-decision versus Atlanta on Saturday.
Oviedo failed to complete four innings for the second outing in a row. He had a season-high six walks in his last start, but Atlanta's offense was able to rack up hits with ease Saturday, though it failed to hit a home run off the right-hander. He's allowed at least three runs in four of his last six outings. For the year, Oviedo has a 4.34 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 140:71 K:BB through 161.2 innings across 29 starts. He's tentatively lined up for a home start versus the Nationals next week.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Command issues in loss
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Oviedo (8-14) took the loss Sunday, allowing five runs (three earned) on four hits and six walks over 3.2 innings against St. Louis. He struck out two.
Oviedo tossed a complete game shutout in his previous start last Monday, but it took Oviedo 97 pitches to record 11 outs Sunday, throwing only 48 for strikes. He was nearly able to finish the fourth and keep the game tied but was removed following an error and two walks that loaded the bases. Reliever Ryan Borucki then allowed a single to Alec Burleson, which plated two and eventually saddled Oviedo with the loss. Oviedo will carry a 4.27 ERA into his next start, currently scheduled to take place next weekend in Atlanta.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Hurls first career shutout
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Oviedo (8-13) notched the win over Kansas City on Monday, allowing two hits and two walks in a complete game shutout. He struck out five batters.
Oviedo had been up-and-down of late, and he had failed to go more than five frames in any of his previous three starts. The right-hander went plenty deep Monday, recording his first career complete game and shutout. Oviedo needed a career-high 112 pitches to complete the contest, though he kept up his velocity throughout and retired the final 11 batters he faced to finish with a flourish. His 4.20 ERA and 1.28 WHIP on the campaign are hardly fantasy gold, though he's put up better numbers in August with a 2.92 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 37 innings covering six starts.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Sharp in seventh win
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Oviedo (7-13) earned the win Tuesday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over five innings against the Cardinals. He struck out five.
It was a solid performance from Oviedo, who'd allowed 10 runs over his previous two starts (nine innings). The lone damage against him Tuesday came on a Richie Palacios solo homer in the fifth. The 25-year-old Oviedo lowered his ERA to 4.46 with a 1.33 WHIP and 129:62 K:BB across 26 starts (145.1 innings) this season. He's currently lined up for a home matchup with the Cubs in his next outing this weekend.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Command issues in loss
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Oviedo (6-13) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and five walks over four innings against the Mets. He struck out three.
Oviedo really struggled with his command early on, allowing three runs on three hits and two walks in the second inning while also being charged with a balk. He issued five walks in the contest, which matched his season high, and needed 78 pitches to get through just four innings. The right-hander has now lost back-to-back starts after previously winning three in a row, logging an uninspiring 7:7 K:BB over that two-game stretch.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Scuffles against Reds
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Oviedo (6-12) absorbed the loss Friday versus the Reds, allowing six runs on five hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out four.
Things looked ominous right away for the big right-hander, as the first four batters of the game reached base and three of them scored. Oviedo looked like he might settle in after that, retiring 10 of the next 11, but then light-hitting catcher Luke Maile clubbed a three-run shot in the fourth inning. He needed 93 pitches to cover his five frames. Oviedo came into this one with a 2.32 ERA since the All-Star break, but this was certainly a step back.
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Pirates' Johan Oviedo: Blanks Brewers in win
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Oviedo improved to 6-11 on the season Sunday after tossing seven scoreless innings while allowing two hits and issuing three walks in a 4-1 win over the Brewers. He struck out six batters.
Oviedo was in complete command Sunday and continued his recent run of dominance on the mound. He's allowed one run or fewer in four of his last five starts and has 11 such starts this season, good for second in the National League. With Sunday's spectacular outing, Oviedo has tied Mitch Keller for the team lead with 12 quality starts and now possesses the lowest ERA on the team (4.21). He'll look to keep rolling in a projected start against the Reds next weekend.
