The veteran may return in 2025 after arm surgery.
It’s far from a guarantee, and East Carolina isn’t counting on it, but the Pirates may get right-handed pitcher Jake Hunter back on the mound sometime during the 2025 season.
Hunter escaped Tommy John surgery despite being projected to miss the full season due to a torn UCL suffered in April of this past season. He got an internal brace for his partially damaged UCL, and if all goes as planned and there are no setbacks, he might be pitching as early as next season.
Dr. Ketih Meister from Texas conducted the operation on Hunter around a month ago.
“It actually looked even better than what they thought he did,” ECU head coach Cliff Godwin told Hoist The Colours during an interview. “So he had the brace installed. He may be able to pitch next year.
“He and his mom returned. I guess it was two weeks ago now. We sat down and talked, and he said, ‘Coach, I have excellent news. I can pitch in March. And I was like, “Jake, I love you.” Look, dude, you go through your rehab, and if you’re ready to leave in March, it’s up to you and your family. And if we are ready to go, that is fantastic.
But if not, I’m not going to put you in danger. Just make sure he’s prepared to go; it’ll be frosting on the cake if we get him back in March.”
Hunter, a rising senior, still has one year of eligibility remaining. At the time of his injury, more than two-thirds of the way through the season, the 6-foot-4, 224-pound right-hander was seventh on the team in innings pitched with 40. He was 3-2 with one save and a 4.05 ERA, striking out 37 against 16 walks.
Hunter has made 54 career appearances (22 starts), going 8-6 with a 4.66 ERA. He’s pitched 123.2 innings, striking out 131 batters while walking 36. Opponents have a career batting average of.235 against him. This season, the right-hander upgraded his secondary offerings, including an improved cutter/slider and a new splitter.
ECU missed Hunter down the stretch, trying to find a third starter and consistent bullpen arms in general without him. The Pirates are already slated to be without Friday night starter Trey Yesavage (projected MLB First-Round pick) and Zach Root (entered the transfer portal), and their most-utilized reliever, Danny Beal, has graduated. So having Hunter back next season in any fashion would be quite beneficial.
In other injury news, starting centerfielder Ryley Johnson will need surgery on each of his ailing shoulders during the summer. He will miss the autumn to rehab, but is expected to return for the start of the 2025 season.
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