Feb 16, 2005 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Pirates realize they’re probably in trouble if rookie left-hander Zach Duke leaves spring training as one of their five starters. That doesn’t mean the 21-year-old Duke won’t be one of their most-watched players when they open camp Thursday in Bradenton, Fla.

Duke was only a 20th-round draft pick in 2001, but he has developed into one of baseball’s most intriguing prospects even though he lacks an overpowering fastball. He is 31-14 with a 2.21 ERA in three minor league seasons, going 15-6 last season at Class A Lynchburg and Double-A Altoona with a 1.46 ERA that was the lowest of any minor league starting pitcher.

Relying on the kind of control that often gets pitchers promoted to the major leagues in a hurry, Duke allowed two or fewer earned runs in 25 of 26 starts and gave up only three runs in the other one.

Duke was the Carolina League pitcher of the year for Lynchburg despite spending the final six weeks of the season at Altoona and pitching well in two postseason starts there. Not surprisingly, he was chosen as the Pirates’ minor league pitcher of the year.

“It’s a bonus he’s left-handed because you are always looking for quality left-handed starters,” Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield said.

For the Pirates, it’s also been a bonus that Duke has stayed healthy. Four pitchers they’ve drafted in the first round since 1999 have needed major surgery or sustained a serious injury: Bobby Bradley, 1999; Sean Burnett, 2000; John Van Benschoten, 2001; and Paul Maholm, 2003. Van Benschoten isn’t expected to pitch this season and Burnett may miss most of it.

The Pirates expect Duke to open the season at their new Triple-A Indianapolis farm club, though he will compete with right-handers Ryan Vogelsong and Todd Ritchie and left-hander Dave Williams, among others, to be their No. 5 starter.

“The best thing for the organization would be for him to go down to Triple-A and do well,” pitching coach Spin Williams said.

Translation: If Duke makes the rotation, it means the Pirates probably have no other option except to rush Duke to the majors without a stopover in Triple-A.

Duke wasn’t considered to have major league potential while growing up in Midland, Texas, because his fastball peaked at a below-average 88 miles per hour while in high school. He has since picked up about 4 mph in velocity, and was chosen recently by Baseball America as the Pirates’ top prospect.

Duke impressed Spin Williams during the Pirates’ minicamp in Bradenton last month with a sweeping curveball that left-handed hitters rarely touch and a more-than-adequate changeup. Left-handers batted only .192 with one homer against Duke last season.

The Pirates hope the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Duke can add another mile per hour or two onto his fastball as he matures. They’re taking Duke to spring training partly because they want him to experience a major league clubhouse and to pitch to big league hitters during exhibition games.

“You want to know what he’s got when he goes back to Triple-A, and is he ready to compete?” Spin Williams said.

Duke also gives the Pirates an option in case No. 2 starter Kip Wells (5-7, 4.55 ERA) isn’t over the injuries that curtailed his 2004 season. The right-hander was bothered by elbow pain and numbness in the middle finger of his pitching hand, making only one start in the final six weeks of the season.

Wells is projected to be ready by opening day April 4.

“Kip is the biggest question mark in the rotation right now,” Spin Williams said.