Donnie Veal was the Pirates' Rule 5 pick from 2009. Hidden in the Bucs' bullpen with occasional dubious stints on the DL to get him work in the minors, Veal was generally a mess with command issues in 2009. Only a time or two did Veal show the promise that the Pirates saw in him, for example when he stuck out the side against the Dodgers.

However, beginning  in the 2009 Arizona Fall League, Veal began to open some eyes when he gained some control and drew raves from some scouts in attendance who said he looked like a completely different pitcher.

This year at AAA Indianapolis, Veal has had stretches of his former poor control self, but also has begun to harness some of that potential in some very promising outings.

Against the Scanton Wilkes Barre Yankees, one of the top teams in the International League filled with seasoned minor league journeymen and a few top Yankees prospects, Veal began a little shaky, going to 3 ball counts a lot in the first couple of innings, but some nice ground ball double plays allowed him to escape unscathed and then he settled in to mow down the Yankees through 7 innings.

Do you think Veal will get a shot in Pittsburgh before the year is through and how well will he do?

Innings 1 - 4....

Innings 5 - 7...Veal on a roll.