UPDATE ON PINEDA... JUST BECAUSE

Michael Pineda is with the Twins now.

Photo: SI.com

I've always rooted for this guy because when we traded with the Mariners and got him for Jesus Montero all those years ago, Pineda was supposed to be the next big thing.  Well he wasn't exactly. Then he got hurt... and then the Twins grabbed him, and there we have it.

Here's a Pineda update, brought to us by MLB Trade Rumors... just because. What happens next is cute.

(Frank Franklin II/AP)

"...the Twins have a few other pitchers whose injury situations bear watching. Among them is Michael Pineda, who is also working back after receiving a fresh ulnar collateral ligament. Minnesota placed a $10MM bet on his ability to get back to the mound and provide value late this year and (mostly) in 2019. Pineda, Berardino writes, has just begun a throwing program. He says it "feels great' to be throwing again, though of course this is just one step in a laborious process. Pineda’s surgery took place in the middle of July of last year, so he’s well behind May in the process."

Now "feeling great" is Pineda's go-to. We've seen it for years in New York.

Back in 2013...
(Newsday)

"'Feeling great tonight,' Pineda said after pitching for the Class-A advanced Tampa Yankees in Florida State League play against the Brevard County Manatees at Steinbrenner Field. "

He down graded to only feeling "very good" in September 2015:
(NJ.com)

"'I feel very good right now and everything is working good so sometimes you have a good game, sometimes you have a bad game,' he said."

Photo: New York Post

And in May of 2017:
(Newsday)

"'We feel great when the rotation is doing its job,' Pineda said. 'We work to every day give the team the opportunity to win a big game.'”

Whatever the case... I still like Pineda and pulling for him.  I hope he has a great season with the Twins.  He needs that.

And by the way... Jesus Montero? Hasn't been on a pro field since the Seattle Mariners in 2015.  In the 2017-2018 season he plays for the Cardenales de Lara. 

Venezuelan Winter League.  I found that interesting.