For Neverauskas, 2020 is Now or Never for Major League Career

As we await the start of the 2020 MLB season due to CoronaVirus concerns, we will take a look at every player on the Pirates roster and outline what they will bring to the table and projections for the 2020 season. I hope this brings some positive reading to the current situation and helps us all as we wait for baseball.

Pirates reliever Dovydas Neverauskas's journey to Major League Baseball was one full of excitement and intrigue. He would be the first Lithuanian born pitcher to make it to the major leagues and, his minor league numbers made it look like he might have some success and open the door for many more Lithuanian born players to make their way to Major League Baseball. Neverauskas is only the second Lithuanian player to appear in a Major League game, Joe Zapustas was the other.

However, Neverauskas's minor league success has not yet transferred to the Major Leagues, and resulted in the right-hander appearing in just 10 games last season. He started the 2019 season on the injured list with a left oblique strain and got called up to the Pirates on May 4th. He would bounce back and forth between the MLB and Triple A four times and in 10 games produced a 10.61 ERA in 9.1 innings of work.

Those numbers are not representative of Neverauskas's minor league numbers. Since moving to the bullpen five years ago, he has pitched to a sub-4.00 ERA and pitched atleast 50 innings each season. He has a fastball that hits between 96-98 mph and two off-speed pitches to back it up. He was also pitching in high-leverage situations and recorded 37 saves in the minors making it look as if he were a good back-end bullpen option.

So what has gone so wrong for Neverauskas that his numbers haven't translated to the Major League Level? The big thing is his control issues that have plagued him throughout his career. In his 61.2 innings pitched at the Major League level, Neverauskas has walked 25 batters for a 3
65 BB/9 ratio. 2019 was Neverauskas's worst season to date in terms of control as he walked 7 batters in 9.1 innings of work.

For a pitcher who doesn't strike out alot of batters, that is not a good sign and doesn't bode well for his future. In the Minor Leagues, he would be able to work out of those jams with his high powered fastball against less experienced hitters. However, at the Major League level, it is not so easy to blow batters away. If you allow free passes they are likely to come around and score later in the inning. 

At the Major League level, his fastball hasn't been fooling any hitters and it has been hit hard. Neverauskas threw the fastball 56.6% of the time and opposing hitters batted .471 against the pitch and barreled it up nearly 10% of the time. He allowed six doubles with the pitch and one homerun for an extra base average of .448. This coupled with his control issues has created a bit of trouble for the right-hander so far.

However, Neverauskas knows this is his last chance to save his Major League and he was taking it in stride in Spring Training. Before camps were suspended, he appeared in six games and allowed just two earned runs in 5.2 innings while striking out six batters. Opponents were hitting just .227 against him in those appearances showing he is starting 2020 on the right foot. The right hander is out of Minor League options meaning if he doesnt make the Opening Day Roster he would have to clear waivers in order for the Pirates to be able to keep him.

If Neverauskas does make the bullpen it would be in a middle reliever role. He would have to compete against guys like Chris Stratton and Chad Kuhl if he wants to stay in the big leagues. He is going to have to work on keeping his control and working in some of his off-speed stuff to fool opposing Major League hitters.

Prediction: 0-0 7.64 ERA (12 Games)

I think Neverauskas will make the Pirates Opening Day Roster because he is out of optipns, but I don't see him staying for very long. Kuhl will need time to get ready after Tommy John surgery when the season starts back up, and I feel this will open the door for Neverauskas. I'm not ready to give up on the right hander yet because he has shown those glimpses of greatness amd I feel he could be a success at the Major League level in the future.

As of now, the season is expected to begin somewhere around May 25th. Until then, we will continue to look at the men who make up this year's team and their contributions in 2020.

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