Health is biggest concern for Lincoln

By Andy Bitter

Published: July 26, 2008

In his first start in Lynchburg, Brad Lincoln displayed just about everything Pirates fans have heard about the former No. 4 overall pick.

His velocity was in the mid-90s. He threw a big bender of a curve that froze a hitter or two. He was around the plate all night, striking out three and walking none. And he picked up his first win at the High-A level, giving up three runs in five innings.

All that’s fine, but it’s not important to Lincoln, who had Tommy John surgery and missed all of last season.

“Numbers are great, but my goal this year is to be healthy,” he said. “Next year, I’m going to work on top of this and be fresh and be able to do it for a whole year.”

Now 15½ months removed from surgery, Lincoln appears to be on track. He pitched so well in his first stop at Low-A Hickory (46 strikeouts to six walks in 62 innings) that he forced the Pirates’ hand in moving him up to Lynchburg.

Then again, talent was never the issue for Lincoln, who struck out 293 batters in his hallowed career at the University of Houston, winning the Dick Howser Trophy in 2006 as college baseball’s player of the year.

The Pirates paid him a $2.75 million bonus after taking him fourth overall in the draft, ahead of pitching studs Andrew Miller (No. 5 to the Tigers), Clayton Kershaw (No. 7 to the Dodgers) and Tim Lincecum (No. 10 to the Giants), all of whom are currently in the big leagues.

But a month into his professional career, Lincoln began feeling discomfort. He was shut down after Aug. 6 with an oblique strain. During the Instructional League in October is when he first noticed his arm didn’t feel right. He took the offseason off, but the problem persisted when he resumed throwing in spring training in 2007.

Many cite overuse as the problem. In 2005, Lincoln threw 102 innings. In 2006, between his time in Houston, the Gulf Coast League and Hickory, he threw 151 1/3 innings. Generally, young pitchers who make a 25 to 30-inning jump from one year to the next are at risk of arm problems.

Lincoln disagrees with the charge.

“It has nothing to do with what happened,” he said. “It was just something that happened. I can’t pinpoint anything to it. It happened and it was a gradual thing. It wasn’t a certain pitch or anything like that. It was just a gradual thing and got worse and worse.

“It just had to be done.”

Lincoln didn’t pick up a baseball again for four months after the surgery (“It’s like starting over in Little League,” he said) and didn’t feel all the way back until this spring training, when he was able to pitch without many restrictions placed on him.

He’s not all the way back. While his velocity is back near pre-injury levels, he fatigues quicker and is still trying to build his endurance.

Nevertheless, he’s pitching and he’s healthy, the two objectives the Pirates had of their top pitching prospect when the year began.

“I’m sure anyone who had arm surgery never would have thought that they would have it,” Lincoln said. “I surely thought it would never happen to me. But it did, and I’ve recovered from it for the most part.

“I’m looking forward to going out there and pitching like the Pirates paid me to pitch.”

Moskos to the ’pen?

Pirates director of player development Kyle Stark told mlb.com that Daniel Moskos, the team’s first-round pick in 2007 and fifth overall prospect, will move to the bullpen at some point during August to keep his innings down.

Moskos threw 95 innings last year between his time at Clemson, the Gulf Coast League and Short-Season State College. Through Saturday, Moskos had thrown 91 2/3 this season.

He’s struggled of late, giving up 34 runs in his last 22 2/3 innings (13.10 ERA) and going 1-4 in his last six starts. His 6.28 ERA is second highest of those who qualify in the Carolina League.

“The everyday grind and going out there every fifth day takes a toll on a guy who has never done it,” Hillcats manager Jeff Branson said. “He’s a guy who will take that ball every fifth day if you ask him to. But again, we’re at a point right now where we don’t want to overextend him to where he doesn’t get anything out of it and goes out there and his body’s all tired.

“So we control his innings so he can still pitch efficiently in a controlled atmosphere.”

It’s unknown when exactly Moskos will move to the bullpen, where he is expected to be used in long relief. He is scheduled to make what could be his last start today in Salem.

Friday progressing

Shortstop Brian Friday (back), who left the Hillcats shortly after the first-half break, has resumed playing in games in the Gulf Coast League as part of his rehab. He was 3-for-11 with a triple in four games entering Saturday.

Branson doesn’t have an exact timetable for Friday’s return to Lynchburg but did say he though it would be “within the next week and a half.”

When Friday returns, he’ll get the majority of starts at short while getting his fair share of days off and at DH. Jose De Los Santos would split time between second and short, and Jim Negrych would continue to see time at third and second.