Chris Devenski has a locker in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse and a deeper appreciation for pitching in the major leagues after his baseball career flashed before his eyes during a spring training game.
With a pressing need for bullpen help, the Pirates on Wednesday selected the 35-year-old right-hander’s contract from Triple-A Indianapolis just six weeks after he suffered a concussion when hit in the head by a line drive during a March 14 Grapefruit League game in Lakeland, Fla.
“I think it’s going to leave a better taste. I feel like I’ve kind of had to fight my way back for this one a little bit more,” Devenski said. “That was definitely a challenging time. I had thoughts of, ‘Am I ever going to do this again?’ It was scary. It feels good. I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be right now.”
Devenski made his Pirates debut Wednesday night in a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, relieving Evan Sisk with one out and one on in the seventh inning. Devenski allowed two hits, RBI singles to Ivan Herrera and Jordan Walker, before striking out Nolan Gorman to end the frame.
While Devenski is new to the Pirates, he has a 27-22 record with a 3.91 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 316 appearances over 10 major league seasons. He was an All-Star in 2017, when he became the first pitcher in Houston Astros history to get a win in the World Series.
Devenski has history with Pirates manager Don Kelly, who was the first base coach for the Astros in 2019 when Devenski pitched the ninth inning of a combined no-hitter with Aaron Sanchez, Will Harris and Joe Biagini in a 9-0 win over Seattle that August. Devenski earned his promotion with the Pirates thanks to an 0.84 ERA with 15 strikeouts against two walks in 10 2/3 innings over seven appearances at Indy.
“He’s an elite competitor. Arsenal is really good, the changeup is elite and he’s using it pretty effectively down in Indy,” Kelly said. “What he’s been through, pitched in the World Series, been in a lot of big games and to have that experience to impart on other guys out there and what he’s been through the ups and downs, definitely will help for sure.”
Devenski had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs in his right elbow in September 2020, then underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2021. He bounced from the Astros to the Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays before pitching in 13 games for the New York Mets last season. He’s been designated for assignment four times.
“It’s been challenging, but I had a never-quit mentality,” Devenski said. “I trust the game and where the game takes me. I’m going to do what I’ve got to do. I want to stay here and stick here. That’s always the goal. It hasn’t worked out like that the last couple years, but I know I have the ability to do that. I’m capable of doing that. If things go right, no better place than being here because it feels right here.”
Devenski — known by his nicknames, Devo and The Dragon — is looking forward to sharing his experiences with his teammates and provide some veteran leadership in the bullpen.
“I’ve been through almost everything: winning, at the top, all the way down to the bottom, two elbow surgeries, getting hit in the head. I’m all about helping somebody else,” Devenski said. “If that’s part of my job, to help somebody else handle a big situation that maybe I’ve been in before and maybe I can give them one thing that’s going to maybe stick with them or stick out for them, that’s going to help them, that’s what I’m about. I’m about passing it on to teammates and helping teammates, helping anybody in the game.”
Overcoming the comebacker that caused a concussion was his latest challenge. Devenski was pitching in the seventh inning when he was struck by a 103-mph line drive off the bat of Detroit’s Woody Hadeen on March 14. He was able to walk off the field on his own, but it was a setback that he worried could threaten to end his career.
“I had a lot of support here. Training staff, everyone around checked in on me, kept my hopes high, kind of gave me the time to get right to be able to do what I’ve got to do,” Devenski said. “I just took it day by day, trusting myself and what the staff was telling me. Here I am.”