Pirates Jared Hughes Reinstated From the 15-Day Disabled List

The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated right handed pitcher Jared Hughes from the 15-day disabled list today. The right hander had a break out year with the Bucs last season going 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 67.0 innings of work.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are currently on a five game winning streak and today they got some more good news. Right handed pitcher Jared Hughes is ready to be reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and join the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen. Hughes was placed on the DL back on March 25 with a left side strain that he suffered during this year's spring training.

In his rehab assingment in Triple A Indianapolis, he pitched in four games totaling 6.0 innings of work giving up five runs on seven hits while striking out five and walking three. In spring training this season, he only pitched in four games and struggled mightily giving up eight runs on 11 hits in just 3.2 innings of work.

Last season, Hughes was considered a rally killer for the Pirates. He came in in some very high leverage situations and shut the opponent down and limited the damage. Hughes was very effective ending with a record of 3-1 with a 2.28 ERA in 67.0 innings of work. He tied his strikeout total from 2014 with 36 and walked 19 in 67.0 innings of work.

Hughes's claim to fame last season was his ability to strand inherited runners on base. In 2015, he inherited 56 runners coming out of the bullpen. Only 16% of those inherited runners came across to score under Hughes's watch. He was among the league leaders in this last season and looks to be a stopper again in 2016.

One key reason he was able to strand so many runners was thanks to the double play ball. Hughes's primary pitch is the sinker, and it helped him collect 11 double plays last season. With an infield defense that is as good as the Pirates are this season, Hughes will be able to rely on the sinker and get opposing batters to hit into ground ball outs.

One thing Hughes has been plagued with throughout his career is walking a lot of batters. In 2015, he walked 19 batters in 67.0 innings of work. He also had a strikeout to walk ratio of 1.89 which is not very good for a MLB pitcher. If he can work on his control this season, he could take that extra leap forward and become a high impact pitcher in this Pirates bullpen.

With Hughes being reinstated on the active roster, Rob Scahill was sent down to Triple A Indianapolis. During his time with the Pirates, Scahill pitched in eight games throwing 6.0 innings and giving up four runs on six hits while walking three and striking out five. He pitched to a 6.00 ERA and will be back in Indianapolis as reserve in case the bullpen is faced with another injury.

Jared Hughes and the rest of the Pittsburgh Pirates will be back in action tonight for game two of a three game series with the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds will send right hander Alfredo Simon (0-2 16.39) and the Pirates will oppose with left hander Francisco Liriano (1-1 4.64). First pitch for tonight's game is 7:05 p.m.