The Pittsburgh Pirates are having their best season in nearly two decades, and it's having a trickle-down effect on Justin Thomas.

Thomas, a 2002 Clay grad, is a relief pitcher for the Indianapolis Indians, the Pirates' Triple-A International League affiliate. The Pirates went into this week's All-Star break with a 47-43 record and were one game behind National League Central Division-leading Milwaukee.

“The guys up there are doing a great job,” Thomas said of the Pirates' staff. “They have one of the best bullpens in baseball.”

Triple A Indianapolis Indians pitcher Justin Thomas, a former Clay Eagle and Youngstown State star. (Photo by Bill Gentry/courtesy of the Indianapolis Indians)

Thomas' conundrum is this: if the Pirates' bullpen continues to pitch well, the less likely Thomas is to get called up to Indianapolis' parent club this season.

Thomas appeared in 12 games and pitched 13 innings for the Pirates in 2010. He was 0-1 with no saves and a 6.23 ERA, and he allowed 21 hits and five walks with five strikeouts. Opponents also hit .375 against him.

Thomas is having an outstanding season with Indianapolis, but that might not matter as long as the Pirates stay healthy and in the hunt for a division title.

“Honestly, I think it would take a lot (to get called up) this year,” Thomas said. “When a team is doing well, they don't like to make changes. When they're not doing well, they're more apt to give other guys a chance. When you're winning, you keep it the same as it is. Unless they want to go a different route, I don't know if I'll be able to pitch in the majors this year. Someone could get traded or I could get traded and I could find myself with somebody who needs a bullpen guy.

“Right now I'm fourth in line for a left-hander in the bullpen (with the Pirates). One guy is injured and when he comes back, they will have to send a reliever down. Anything can happen. You just have to go out there and do your job night in and night out. When they have a need for somebody, you have to make sure you're doing your best. This game's funny and guys get called up all the time. Pittsburgh's starting pitching has been unbelievable and their bullpen has been great.”

Indianapolis, which plays in the same division as the Mud Hens, were 47-45 through July 13. Thomas, 27, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound left-hander, is 5-2 with three saves and a 4.09 ERA. He has pitched 44 innings in 40 appearances and allowed 38 hits and 12 walks with 39 strikeouts.

“I've been throwing pretty well,” Thomas said. “My numbers are pretty good except for ERA. A couple outings I gave up multiple runs and that hurt my ERA. I lead the league in appearances and I lead the league in holds (8), where you hold to save for the closer.

“Lately I've been pitching a lot late in the game, in the seventh and eighth inning. Our closer (Tim Wood) got called up to the majors for about three weeks and we were closing by committee during the time he was gone. I think I have three saves in three opportunities, and a couple other times I came in when were were ahead by four runs and I finished the game.”

Justin said Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor is comfortable putting him in situations where the Indians are in the lead late in a close game.

“When you're looked at as one of those guys who can be depended on when the game is close, that's all that matters,” Thomas said. “You just want to be looked at as someone who is reliable in tight situations. We've been playing a lot of close games and playing good baseball, so I've been getting out there a lot lately. I come in in a lot of situations where there are men on base and there are a lot of left-handed hitters coming up.”

Thomas has pitched against the Mud Hens twice at Fifth Third Field this season. On April 20 in the Indians' 4-2 win, Thomas pitched one inning and gave up one hit and one walk with one strikeout. On July 2, Thomas pitched one perfect inning with two strikeouts and earned the save in the Indians' 4-3, 12-inning win over the Hens.

Indianapolis returns to Fifth Third Field on Aug. 8-9 and Aug. 28-29. Thomas said he still gets a thrill pitching in his hometown; he left 30 passes for family and friends on the night he earned the save against the Mud Hens.

“I always stay at home when I come home, either at my mom's (Jackie) house or my dad's (Steve) house,” Thomas said. “I get to hang out with both parents when I come home. Last time, my in-laws came in to see me pitch.”

Thomas and his wife, Theresa, are expecting their first child, a girl they plan to name Ella Marie, in mid-November. The couple bought a home in Dalton, Ohio, last September. Dalton is located about 20 minutes from Canton – and 138 miles from Pittsburgh.

“Theresa went to high school in Massillon and we found a house not too far from her parents where we wanted to live,” Thomas said. “During the season, if she's going to be at home or I'm away, she's close to her parents. Her mom's great and she helps out a lot when I'm gone.”

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed