By Chuck Curti
Don Veal will be the first to say that success spoiled him.
In his first season as a minor-leaguer with the Chicago Cubs, he split the 2006 season between low and high Class A. He compiled an 11-5 record with 174 strikeouts — in just 154.1 innings — and an ERA slightly over 2.00.
That vaulted the hard-throwing left-handed starter among the Cubs’ best prospects, according to Baseball America magazine.
And that’s when, Veal said, his own expectations began to weigh him down.
“In Class AA, I put a little pressure on myself to get to the big leagues too quickly,” said Veal from the Pirates’ spring training complex in Bradenton, Fla. “Coming into the following year (2008), I improved the first half of the season and was really good. The second half, I fell off a bit.”
In 2006 and 2007 with the Cubs’ Class AA affiliate in Tennessee, Veal was a combined 13-20 with an ERA approaching 5.00. But the more alarming statistic was his walks; he issued 73 free passes in 2007 and 81 in 2008.
The Cubs lost some faith in Veal and made him available in the Rule 5 Draft in December. The Pirates, needing help in their bullpen, took a chance.
As a Rule 5 pick, Veal must make the Pirates opening-day roster and remain there the entire season. If he does not make the team out of spring training or does and is sent to the minors at any point, he must be offered back to the Cubs for $25,000. (The Pirates paid the Cubs $50,000 for the right to select Veal.)
Veal has made a good impression through the first half of spring training. Following his scoreless inning against Tampa Bay Monday night, Veal has pitched eight innings over eight outings. He lowered his ERA to 2.25 and has given up only three hits, but the walks are outnumbering the strikeouts (7-4).
“I’m starting to get into a groove a little bit,” said Veal. “A lot of the veteran guys have made it easier.”
Veal remained in Bradenton after the Pirates’ minicamp earlier this winter to put in some extra work before spring training. He said the staff has made some adjustments in his delivery and worked with him on locating his pitches better.
“It’s just more of a natural delivery, less robotic,” said Veal. “I got too mechanical the last couple of years. I’m letting my body work for me instead of against me.
“I do feel like I’m getting closer. Hopefully by the end of spring, the manager has a tough decision.”
Perhaps more importantly, Veal said he’s cleared his mind and simply started to enjoy baseball again. That might be the change that helps him the most.
“If it’s in Pittsburgh or wherever it may be, I’m just going to go out and have fun.”
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