Oviedo stumbles in first start since '23, Bucs battle back late to pick him up

PITTSBURGH -- During a checkup stop at PNC Park during the Pirates’ last homestand, Johan Oviedo admitted that he had to learn patience to help get through the last two years of rehabbing from right UCL surgery.

“That was one of the things that I was trying to work on the most, and [one of the] things that I feel like that I got really good at,” Oviedo said Monday.

Oviedo has always had the competitive edge, even on the days he was hurt. His velocity held firm until the day he recorded his 32nd start of 2023. Unbeknownst to Oviedo and the Pirates, his UCL was damaged at the time and he would need surgery that winter. He came out of the gate strong in 2025 Spring Training until a right lat strain put him on the shelf. Even then, Oviedo made a few more pitches after the injury occurred, trying to muscle through it.

But recovery and health aren’t always matters of toughness and competitiveness. Sometimes it’s patience and maturity, something that manager Don Kelly has seen from the right-hander on his path back to the Majors.

“We talked about that journey. Being down, [having] a lot of time to think, a lot of downs, a lot of anxiety, and he’s worked through that,” Kelly said. “He’s talked about how something he learned is patience in dealing with certain things and going through the rehab. I think that when you see the stuff that he has -- how he goes about it, the intensity, the physicality that he’s got out there on the mound -- [there’s] just a lot of good things to put together to go with the stuff. I think he’s matured and learned through the journey as well.”

Oviedo’s wait finally came to an end on Monday, when he was activated off the injured list and walked out to the mound to start Pittsburgh's series opener with the Giants. It had been 22 months since he toed the rubber at PNC Park. But he’s going to have to wait another turn through the rotation to make a proper start.

Unfortunately, Oviedo looked like a pitcher who hadn’t thrown in a Major League game since Sept. 27, 2023. His location was spotty, he walked three batters and only threw one 43-pitch inning. Ironically, the guy who showed great patience to get back to the Majors admitted postgame that he felt rushed in his delivery.

“My mechanics were a little bit rushed at the beginning,” Oviedo said. “It's more about keeping things under control for next time.”

Fortunately, Oviedo's teammates were there this time to pick him up. The bullpen combined for eight strong innings -- capped by a scoreless frame from Dauri Moreta, who was also making his first appearance at PNC Park since his Tommy John surgery -- and a Jack Suwinski seventh-inning homer made it a ballgame again. Then, in a tie game in the bottom of the ninth, Suwinski beat a Rafael Devers throw home off an Isiah Kiner-Falefa ground ball to beat the Giants, 5-4.

“Definitely a lot of feelings,” Oviedo said. “Definitely not the results that we wanted, but got the opportunity and got the chance. A lot of excitement.”

Ninth-inning heroics made it a happy return for Oviedo, but so much focus on this club now is centered around 2026, whether it’s in the roster construction or how much playing time certain players will get. Oviedo factors into both conversations.

The Pirates dealt Bailey Falter to the Royals just before last Thursday’s Trade Deadline, creating an open spot in the rotation for not only the final two months this year, but potentially beyond that. The Bucs view Oviedo as a starter moving forward, even as the organization has developed an influx of young arms who are either in the Majors or soon will be. The next two months are a chance for him to establish himself in that role.

While Monday’s start left a lot to be desired, Oviedo was consistently pumping mid-90s fastballs and was in the zone with his slider. He was flying open in his delivery, but the actual stuff is still there, as is his health.

“I feel amazing overall,” Oviedo said. “My body feels good. My last outings were really good. I feel command of my pitches, just my emotions didn't let me execute the way I really wanted it.”

Oviedo has shown that all he needs is a chance to compete. He’ll get that opportunity down the stretch. It’s a payoff for not only his work, but also his patience.

“The real test was today,” Oviedo said. “Definitely didn't win the way I wanted or the way I was hoping, but it was good to get out and take all that out, feel the mound for the first time in a while, being with the team for the first time. Like I said, it's not what I wanted, but it was a good way to let everything out.”