<p>Nine months ago, knuckleballer Steven Wright wasn’t sure he could make it all the way back from Tommy John surgery. The hill he faced seemed too steep.</p>
<p>“I probably was on the fence, like, ‘Do I do this? Do I not?’” Wright said Monday after agreeing to a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. “I’ve had a great career.”</p>
<p>On the field anyway. Off it was another matter entirely.</p>
<p>The former All-Star knew his transgressions — <a href="https://apnews.com/article/18eb82c3019c49008b63f2042986394b">a 15-game suspension</a> in 2018 for violating the league’s domestic violence policy and an <a href="https://apnews.com/article/c66c4ef7a9274139bf84dc219eaa169d">80-game ban in 2019 </a> after testing positive for Human Growth Hormone — placed a very large asterisk next to his name whenever it came up.</p>
<p>“It’s not the way anybody wants to go out,” Wright said.</p>
<p>So Wright didn’t. He found a group in Nashville, Tennessee, to work out with and suddenly all the progress he’s made in his personal life over the last few years — which he said includes therapy and trying to help other men like him who have bottled up emotional problems — coalesced into progress in his professional life.</p>
<p>The right arm that has baffled hitters for years grew stronger. The pain in his left knee that had served as a constant companion vanished. His confidence returned. </p>
<p>“I don’t want to look back 15 or 20 years from now and be like, ‘Damn, I should have given it one last shot,’" Wright said. </p>
<p>He held a personal showcase for scouts in February. While it went well, his phone didn’t exactly start blowing up with offers from teams looking to bring in a 36-year-old three seasons removed from being effective who carries a fair amount of self-inflicted baggage. </p>
<p>Eventually, the Pirates reached out thanks in part to Wright’s long relationship with Pittsburgh general manager Ben Cherington, one that dates back to Cherington’s lengthy stay in Boston in a variety of roles, including general manager. </p>
<p>Cherington is in the midst of an organization-wide overhaul. The major league roster is in serious flux, and Wright’s versatility — he’s been both a starter and a reliever during his seven-year career — plus the uniqueness of his signature pitch could serve as the baseball equivalent of duct tape.</p>
<p>Wright credited the Pirates for doing a “very extensive job” of vetting him and insists he was transparent during the process. </p>
<p>“I gave them all the information because I wanted them to be comfortable knowing what had happened but that’s not who I am,” he said. “It’s a dark past, it’s something I’m definitely sorry for not only myself but the game of baseball and my family. But we’ve moved past that.”</p>
<p>What exactly the way forward holds is unclear. Wright — who is 24-16 with a 3.89 career ERA — says he feels great but has yet to discuss what kind of role he might fill if given the opportunity. With barely over a week to go before the regular season starts, he may have to catch up quickly. He believes he’s up for it, stressing he is pain-free and ready to go.</p>
<p>“Throwing bullpens doesn’t correlate as much to throwing to hitters (in) games, so a lot of it is going to be reps,” Wright said. “But so far, I feel really good physically, mentally I feel like I’m in a good spot, so now it’s going to be getting some more reps and getting into games.”</p>
<p>Wright believes his knuckler is at its best when he’s throwing it in the low 70s. He can reach back and hit the low-80s with his fastball but is well aware he’s at the mercy of whichever way his main pitch flutters. He’ll take his chances. So will the Pirates.</p>
<p>“If I didn’t feel good, you wouldn’t be seeing me here,” he said. “I wouldn’t have tried to get signed. I wouldn’t have done the showcases. I wouldn’t even have picked up a ball. But I feel good. I want to go out there just leave it all on the field, so when that time does come — because it comes for everybody — I’ll have no regrets.”</p>
<p>Notes: Tickets for the first two homestands at PNC Park go on sale Tuesday. The team is anticipating at allowing 25% capacity for the games, around 7,800 fans per game. Pittsburgh’s home opener is set for April 8 against the Chicago Cubs.</p>
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