Finally healthy after three years primarily lost to injury, left-hander Cory Luebke has scouts "buzzing" in Pittsburgh Pirates camp, Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweets.
Once a promising left-hander in the San Diego Padres organization, Luebke has undergone Tommy John surgery twice and not pitched in the majors since 2012 as a result. The 31-year-old returned to the mound in the minors last year, but injuries once again crept up, prompting the Padres to buy out his 2016 option.
Now, Luebke is in camp with the Pirates and impressing with a 94 mph fastball and 87 mph curveball, Heyman notes. The southpaw has the ability to opt out of his contract if Pittsburgh doesn't add him to its major league roster, but it's unclear if interest in him is high enough for him to do so and land a roster spot elsewhere. With the Pirates having a strong reputation for helping reclamation-project pitchers, it makes sense for Luebke to stay in the organization and continue working his way back to the majors before looking elsewhere.
Luebke has allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings this spring.
