Evan Sisk knew his command struggles in spring training cost him a spot on the Opening Day roster after he issued almost as many walks as he did strikeouts in Grapefruit League play.
“You notice it when it’s happening,” Sisk said. “I knew during spring I was walking too many guys there. That decision obviously really makes you lock in on what you need to do.”
As soon as the left-handed reliever reported to Triple-A Indianapolis, he sought to diagnose the problem. By checking Trackman reports with Indy pitching coach Andy Benes, Sisk discovered his arm slot had risen slightly and was affecting his release.
“For me, it was more of a hand-tilt type of deal,” Sisk said. “It was only a few inches so it was kind of like that 5-6 range in release height; I just needed to get back to 3-4 area where I can flow through it. Not too big of an adjustment. It kind of clicked in the bullpen the other day.”
The Pirates recalled Sisk on Monday, adding one lefty to their pitching staff while subtracting another by optioning rookie Hunter Barco to Indianapolis.
The move was designed to bolster a taxed bullpen as well as allow Barco to stretch out as a starting pitcher. A top-100 prospect, Barco was 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA, 2.14 WHIP and five walks with seven strikeouts in seven innings over four appearances as a bulk reliever for the Pirates but wasn’t pitching on a regular basis.
“We needed a fresh arm, and we needed to lengthen Barco out,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He’s going to be a big part of what we are doing moving forward. We need to get him stretched back out. We believe he’s a starting pitcher long term. Does that mean that when he comes back up he will be in the rotation? Don’t know. He can still fill that bulk role. We just needed to get him some more touches on the mound, and we needed a fresh arm for the series.”
The 28-year-old Sisk gives them just that, as well as one with experience in the majors. Acquired from the Kansas City Royals in the Bailey Falter trade, Sisk went 1-1 with a 4.38 ERA, 14 strikeouts and five walks in 12 1/3 innings over 14 appearances for the Pirates last season. But the Pirates added lefty relievers in Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery, then opted for Barco as a bulk reliever.
“That’s the goal every spring. If you’re in big-league camp, you want to make the team,” Sisk said. “When they tell you, it’s never going to be a great feeling that you’re getting optioned. But you take a day or whatever you need and you go back to work.”
For Sisk, that involved in dropping his release point to a slightly lower arm slot.
He was 1-0 with a 1.17 ERA, 14 strikeouts against seven walks and a .200 batting average-against in 7 2/3 innings over six appearances at Indianapolis. More important, he found a comfort level and has been able to stay in the strike zone.
Sisk has fared well against left-handed hitters, who are batting .192 with a .564 OPS against him in the majors compared to righties hitting .275 with a .791 OPS. So he’s prepared for matchup-based moves but is willing to pitch in any role the Pirates need from him.
“Whenever the phone rings, if it’s coming in to face a lefty, one inning or one-plus,” Sisk said, “whatever they need from me, I’m excited to get going.”