Former Pirates Pitcher Grateful For Time With Pittsburgh
· Yahoo Sports
Former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Johan Oviedo will make his spring training debut for the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, officially beginning a new chapter in his career.
Oviedo, who was dealt from the Pirates to the Red Sox over the offseason, got a chance to catch up with his old teammates prior to Tuesday’s spring training game between Boston and Pittsburgh.
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Oviedo, who spent three seasons with the Pirates, also gave an emotional interview with team beat writer Jason Mackey of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (subscription required).
“Pittsburgh gave me hope,” Oviedo told Mackey. “You get traded, you never know what sort of situation you’re gonna get. The Pirates welcomed me like a family member. They gave me the opportunity to keep growing, to show what I can do and chase my dreams.”
Johan Oviedo knows it's a business and wasn't surprised or mad that he was traded. But he wanted to make one thing clear: He really appreciated his time with the Pirates. My story from Fort Myers: https://t.co/vhxen2C5cR
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) February 24, 2026
“You can put in the work. You can have talent, good pitches or whatever. But if a team doesn’t trust you or isn’t willing to give you an opportunity, none of that matters,” Oviedo added.
It’s not surprising that the 27-year-old right-hander has fond memories of Pittsburgh. It’s where he’s had his best seasons so far, including his breakout campaign in 2023.
He missed the entire 2024 season and most of 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but he came back strong for the Pirates last year, pitching well down the stretch and convincing the Red Sox to make a move for him.
Now, he’s looking to pick up where he left off and make a good first impression with his new team. He’s also fighting for the fifth spot in Boston’s loaded rotation, so whether he wins the job or not may depend on how well he pitches this spring.
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