By JUSTIN GUERRIERO

The Tribune-Review, Greensburg

(TNS) —For about a month leading into early May, Chase Shugart was among the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most lightsout bullpen options, posting a 1.23 ERA through his first 12 appearances of the season.

While that clip of outings was briefly interrupted by a short stint at Triple-A Indianapolis, Shugart returned to Pittsburgh on April 15 and didn’t miss a beat.

However, on May 5, Shugart hit a major wall, as he failed to record an out against the St. Louis Cardinals, getting roughed up for four runs and five hits.

After taking the loss that day, Shugart resolved to move on quickly.

“Baseball’s a humbling game,” Shugart said. “Being able to have the success I had and then get punched in the mouth like that, it’s really all about how you respond.”

Only two outings later, Shugart had a less-than-ideal appearance Saturday at home against the Atlanta Braves.

Taking over in the 11th inning with the score tied, a wild pitch by Shugart allowed the Braves to plate the winning run as he suffered his second loss of the season in a five-day span.

Shugart was called upon again Wednesday in the Pirates’ series finale against the New York Mets.

The circumstances were hardly ideal.

Starter Bailey Falter had departed after only 3 2/3 innings, leaving the bases loaded.

But Shugart quickly ended the inning by getting Jose Azocar to line out on just one pitch.

Manager Don Kelly kept Shugart in for the fifth and sixth innings, with the 28-yearold delivering scoreless frames.

“Unbelievable — to come in in that (bases-loaded) situation, get out of it in the fourth and go out and go two more was great,” Kelly said.

By the time Shugart was relieved in the seventh by Tanner Rainey, he had put together his longest outing of the season, allowing a lone hit in 2 1/3 innings while throwing 19 of his 30 pitches for strikes.

After Dennis Santana closed the door on the Mets in the ninth, preserving a 4-0 win, Shugart (2-3, 2.89 ERA) earned the victory.

On the year, Shugart has made 16 appearances, 13 of which have been scoreless.

He has pitched 18 2/3 innings, striking out 12 with seven walks, and has a WHIP of 1.07.

For Shugart, who throws five pitches, pitching to avoid contact isn’t part of the game plan.

“I think it just goes into filling the strike zone up with my best options, whether it be the sinker, the cutter or the four-seamer,” Shugart said. “Just trying to keep hitters off-balance while also attacking them. Our catchers here, they know me really well in the short amount of time they’ve known me.”

Shugart, acquired in January after being designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox, who drafted him (12th round, No. 370 overall in 2018), admitted to not paying too much attention to the greater analytical realm as it pertains to his pitching.

And yet, Shugart this season has been among baseball’s best when it comes to avoiding hard contact.

Per Statcast, Shugart’s average exit velocity of 84.6 mph ranks in the 97th percentile in MLB, while his hard-hit percentage (balls hit with an exit velocity of at least 95 mph) of 32.7% ranks in the 85th percentile.

“Just trying to build off of one outing, one after another,” Shugart said. “What I did yesterday doesn’t matter — it’s what I did today. Keeping that mindset, letting my pitches work and having trust in them to continue to get weak contact. If the hard contact comes, just be able to prepare for that and go to the next-best option.”

Being jettisoned by the Red Sox this past winter was no doubt disappointing for Shugart, who posted a 4.15 ERA in six career appearances with Boston (all in 2024) before his time with the organization ended.

But as one chapter of his career ended, another with the Pirates began.

“Each opportunity is a blessing,” he said. “Not everybody gets to be in the big leagues every day. I feel like I’m still trying to find a groove. It’s early in the season, it’s a long season and I’m not trying to get too far ahead of myself. Just taking it day by day.”