CINCINNATI -- Orioles manager Brandon Hyde admitted you never know what to expect from a young starting pitcher upon returning from the injured List. However when 25-year old Kyle Bradish made his return Friday night, he delivered in one of the strongest outings of his young career.
Sidelined since mid-June with right shoulder inflammation, the former No. 10 prospect turned in five innings of two-run ball with seven punchouts in a 6-2 win over the Reds in the series opener at Great American Ball Park. Bradish had his typical quality “stuff” -- he created 12 swings and misses, five of which came on his fastball -- but much more importantly, he didn't walk anybody for just the second time in his big league career.
Bradish only had to throw 81 pitches -- 52 for strikes -- and was in command of the zone for most of the night.
“It felt great. I’ve just been waiting to get activated,” he said after the game. “I could have thrown more strikes, but I didn't give up any hard contact. Even the home run, it wasn't really a barrel. [I] executed a pitch and [Joey Votto] got some wood on it. Overall, a good first outing back.”
After allowing a leadoff double to Jonathan India, followed by a two-run shot to Votto, Bradish settled in, found his groove and got through five innings, marking his longest start since late May.
“This is right up there with [my] debut,” Bradish said when asked if it was his most complete outing of the season.
“He’s got such a live fastball,” Hyde said. “He’s got two good breaking balls. He hasn't pitched in the big leagues in a while, so you kind of never know what a young pitcher is going to come off the IL and look like. For him to go five innings on the road and just give up a two-run homer, I thought that was awesome.”
Next, Bradish said, he’ll focus on getting into the sixth inning to help take a load off the bullpen. He’s done so just three other times this season.
Despite pitching well, Bradish was on the hook for the loss before Orioles right fielder Anthony Santander slugged a home run to knot the score at two in the sixth. Then, with the game tied in the top of the ninth inning, center fielder Cedric Mullins drove in the go-ahead runs with a base hit up the middle.
It marked the 23rd comeback victory for Baltimore, which accounts for nearly half its wins.
Originally a fourth-round selection by the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, Bradish went to Baltimore via the Dylan Bundy trade, and has since established himself as an important piece to the team’s future.
With an opening campaign full of ups and downs, Bradish’s injury offered him a much-needed reset. Instead of letting it eat away at him further, he used the time off as more of a mental reset. This message was relayed by several of his teammates.
“I know a lot of the guys, Dean [Kremer], Spenser [Watkins] … I talked to [Austin] Voth a little bit about being on the IL, they said ‘Just go down there, get your stuff back, clear your head and come back strong,' " he said.
Bradish dealt three innings in his first rehab outing and five innings in his second at Double-A Bowie, before a 4 2/3-inning display at Triple-A Durham prepared him for a return. He was recalled before Thursday’s contest to make the start that night.
While on his assignment, Bradish did more than just tend to his shoulder.
“Not so much mechanics … I think a lot of it was mental. My [slider and curveball] were kind of blending together. So just trying to get those back to being two distinct pitches.”