BRADENTON, Fla. — Mike Clevinger has a season on his resume that no other Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher can claim, but knows that it doesn’t carry much weight in his quest to earn a roster spot this spring.
Clevinger had 207 strikeouts in 200 innings over 32 starts for Cleveland in 2018, a workhorse feat that neither Paul Skenes nor Mitch Keller has accomplished yet. Both Skenes and Keller have had a 200-strikeout season and made 32 starts but neither has a 200-inning season.
The 35-year-old right-hander is in big league camp on a minor league contract as a non-roster invitee attempting to win the final spot in the starting rotation or a bulk relief role in the bullpen. But he no longer has elite velocity on a staff with pitchers who can touch triple digits.
“I might have a little bit of play but I don’t think it’s the same play as I might’ve had 10 years ago,” Clevinger said with a laugh. “It’s a what-have-you-done-for-me-today kind of thing, so you’ve got to show up and compete every day, no matter your age or how much time you have. The game’s moving fast right now.”
What’s comforting to Clevinger is that, after dealing with elbow, knee and neck injuries the past few seasons, he’s finally healthy. He missed the 2021 season while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, then pitched with a slight tear of his MCL. That affected his mechanics, which led to cervical spine surgery.
This past offseason, he went to Driveline, which broke down his numbers and found that his spinal flexion was putting stress on his shoulder and compressed his spine.
“The main thing is health. I had a full season last year, no surgery at the end of it. I was able to really dive into my training,” Clevinger said. “It’s been a rocky road. … I’m in a really good spot health-wise right now.”
Clevinger is expected to make his first start of Grapefruit League play Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder has a 60-44 career record, 3.55 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 164 appearances (142 starts) over nine seasons with Cleveland, the San Diego Padres and Chicago White Sox. He made 24 starts in 2023 but moved into the White Sox bullpen the following year.
After posting a 7.94 ERA and 2.29 WHIP over eight appearances last season, Clevinger was designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte. He went 7-3 with a 4.20 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 93 strikeouts in 100 2/3 innings over 22 starts but allowed 17 home runs.
Clevinger never considered retiring.
“I’ll play baseball anywhere,” Clevinger said. “I’ll keep playing in the backyard or here. It’s the motivation to keep playing. I just enjoy being out there. That’s something I’ll never take for granted.”
Clevinger still has his signature shoulder-length hair and a herky-jerky delivery, rocking back and forth before using a high leg kick, then creating whip with loose arm action.
“A lot of funkiness in that movement, but this stuff is real,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “Just really glad to have him in camp.”
Clevinger blames his high-energy twitchiness for his funky delivery, saying that it’s hard for him to sit still. When he was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels, they tried to change the delivery but it only caused Clevinger to get out of whack. So he decided it was just something he naturally had to do to regulate his impulses.
“I’m just getting in a rhythm,” Clevinger said. “That’s one of the main goals out of that. I always look at it as, if you’re going to throw your best punch, you’re not going to do it flat-footed. It’s almost identical sequencing, to throw a good punch and a hard fastball.”
Clevinger also brings 10 games of postseason experience, including four in relief. He is excited about the talent on the Pirates’ pitching staff and is willing to share his experiences, positive and negative. He was placed on the restricted list by Cleveland in August 2020 for violating covid safety protocols, and was investigated by MLB for alleged domestic violence and child abuse, though no discipline followed.
“I’m an open book about everything,” Clevinger said. “I went from being at the top of the top to the bottom of the bottom and everywhere in-between. I always share that, and about having to find themselves on the mound, not trying to emulate someone else. Find who you are out there. That’s a big factor for every pitcher.”