For about a month leading into early May, Chase Shugart was among the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most lights-out bullpen options, posting a 1.23 ERA through his first 12 appearances of the season.
While that clip of outings was briefly interrupted by a short stint at Triple-A Indianapolis, Shugart returned to Pittsburgh on April 15 and didn’t miss a beat.
However, on May 5, Shugart hit a major wall, as he failed to record an out against the St. Louis Cardinals, getting roughed up for four runs and five hits.
After taking the loss that day, Shugart resolved to move on quickly.
“Baseball’s a humbling game,” Shugart said. “Being able to have the success I had and then get punched in the mouth like that, it’s really all about how you respond.”
Only two outings later, Shugart had a less-than-ideal appearance May 10 at home agsinst the Atlanta Braves.
Taking the hill in the 11th inning with the game tied, a wild pitch by Shugart allowed the Braves to plate the game-winning run, resulting in him taking his second loss of the season in a five-day span.
Looking to regain his prior solid form, Shugart was called upon Wednesday in the Pirates’ series finale against the New York Mets.
The circumstances were hardly ideal.
Starter Bailey Falter had departed after only 3 2/3 innings pitched, leaving the bases loaded for Shugart.
But Shugart put out the fire instantaneously, ending the inning by getting Jose Azocar to line out on just one pitch.
Manager Don Kelly kept Shugart in for the fifth and sixth innings, with the 28-year-old delivering scoreless frames.
“Unbelievable – to come in in that (bases loaded) situation, get out of it in the fourth and go out and go two more was great,” Kelly said.
By the time he was relieved in the seventh by Tanner Rainey, Shugart had put together his longest outing of the season, allowing a lone hit in 2 1/3 innings while throwing 19 of his 30 pitches for strikes.
After Dennis Santana closed the door on the Mets in the ninth, preserving a 4-0 win for the Pirates, Shugart (2-3, 2.89 ERA) became the winning pitcher.
On the year, Shugart has made 16 appearances, 13 of which have been scoreless.
He’s pitched 18 2/3 innings, striking out 12 with seven walks and has a WHIP of 1.07.
For Shugart, who throws five pitches, pitching to avoid contact isn’t part of the nightly game plan.
“I think it just goes into filling the strike zone up with my best options, whether it be the sinker, the cutter or the four-seamer,” Shugart said. “Just trying to keep hitters off-balance while also attacking them. Our catchers here, they know me really well in the short amount of time they’ve known me.”
Shugart, acquired by the Pirates in January after being designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox, the club that drafted him (12th round, No. 370 overall in 2018), admitted to not paying too much attention to the greater analytical realm as it pertains to his pitching.
And yet, Shugart this season has been among baseball’s best when it comes to avoiding hard contact.
Per Statcast, Shugart’s average exit velocity of 84.6 mph ranks in the 97th percentile in MLB, while his hard-hit percentage (balls hit with an exit velocity of at least 95 mph) of 32.7% ranks in the 85th percentile.
“Just trying to build off of one outing, one after another,” Shugart said. “What I did yesterday doesn’t matter – it’s what I did today. Keeping that mindset, letting my pitches work and having trust in them to continue to get weak contact. If the hard contact comes, just be able to prepare for that and go to the next-best option.”
Being jettisoned by the Red Sox this past winter was no doubt disappointing for Shugart, who posted a 4.15 ERA in six career appearances with Boston (all in 2024) before his time with the organization came to an end.
But as one chapter of his baseball career ended, another with the Pirates began.
As his time with Pittsburgh continues, Shugart plans to appreciate every day of it.
“Each opportunity is a blessing,” he said. “Not everybody gets to be in the big leagues every day. I feel like I’m still trying to find a groove. It’s early in the season, it’s a long season and I’m not trying to get too far ahead of myself. Just taking it day by day.”