Indianapolis Indians pitcher Nick Kingham left Wednesday’s game in the sixth inning with elbow pain. Kingham was making a start against the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins.
Kingham came into the season ranked as the sixth best prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates minor league system by Baseball America.
“Kingham was removed from his start today due to discomfort in his right elbow,” the Indianapolis Indians said in a statement released to media. “He is being evaluated and we will provide more information when it becomes available.”
Kingham pitched 5.1 innings in the start allowing three hits, one run and striking out three batters.
At the end of Spring Training, manager Clint Hurdle told the media that Kingham was one of the team’s top pitching depth options and that he had impressed while in Florida.
Kingham is in his first full season with the Indians. He made 14 starts with the team last season posting a a 5-4 record with a 3.58 ERA over the course of 88 innings. This season Kingham has a 1-2 record with a 4.31 ERA in 31.1 innings. Kingham has allowed 34 hits and has a strikeouts-per-nine rate of 10.04. He also has a WHIP of 1.31 on the season.
Kingham was drafted in the fourth round of the 2010 MLB Draft.
According to Ryan Palencer of Pirates Prospects, it was catcher Tony Sanchez who seemed to find something wrong with Kingham in the sixth inning and two pitches later made a second walk to the mound this time with the training staff. Kingham then left the game.
This injury is the second significant hit to the Pirates pitching depth as early in Spring Training Brandon Cumpton underwent Tommy John surgery. Jameson Taillon is still recovering from Tommy John surgery although he is expected to pitch in the near future.
Photo courtesy: Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports
