Jake Cuffman put on a few pounds since becoming the 14th-round selection of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2003 amateur draft.

It's a good thing he did.

"People can't imagine how hot it gets pitching in Florida during the daytime," the Butler resident said. "You get worn down just warming up in the bullpen."

A 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher, Cuffman weighed 206 pounds when his 2004 season started with the Bradenton Pirates of the Gulf Coast Rookie League.

He weighed 194 when the season ended, despite pitching just 16

innings in six official games for Bradenton.

"It's 96 degrees every day, humid as can be, and those games start at noon," Cuffman said. "It's tough. Pitching in this weather is a big adjustment when you're not used to it."

Cuffman compiled an 0-1 record and a 4.86 earned run average.

"Statistics are misleading because we have those guys pitch a lot of simulated games down there," said Brian Graham, the Pirates' director of player development.

Cuffman started five of the six games he pitched, but he waited a long time between starts. Bradenton had a lot of rain this summer and the Pirates sent a few of their top prospects - Bobby Bradley, Corey Stewart and Mike Johnston among them - to Bradenton for rehab assignments.

"With all the hurricanes rolling through, it was kind of crazy," Cuffman said. "We had one week when we were supposed to play nine games and we played only one."

After striking out 27 in 21

innings at Bradenton last year, Cuffman had hopes of beginning this season at Class A Williamsport.

The anticipated promotion never transpired. After staying in extended spring training, Cuffman slipped coming out of the shower in mid-May and rolled his ankle.

"I thought I broke it," he said. "It swelled up like a softball."

The ankle was merely sprained, but it sidelined Cuffman for a month. He wound up with 15 strikeouts, 20 walks and allowed three home runs in his 16-plus innings.

"That ankle injury set him back a little and may have thrown off his mechanics," Graham said. "Jake just needs to get better command of his fastball.

"He has a good curveball and his changeup is getting better. It's not enough to just throw your fastball for strikes. When you want to throw it down and away, up and in … you have to be able to spot it that way."

Cuffman reports to the instructional league in Florida Monday. He will be there for four weeks.

Other than spring training, he hopes he's seen his last of Bradenton for a while.

Cuffman won't turn 20 until March 3.

"There's a chance I'll be pitching at Williamsport or Hickory next year," he said. "I've pitched 40 innings in Bradenton the past two years. I got my innings in there. Hopefully, it's time to move on."

Graham said there are no guarantees.

"We'll see where he's at in a few weeks and in spring training," Graham said. "Jake's a competitive kid and he's very athletic. He just needs to mature physically and mentally."

While his numbers weren't where he'd like them to be this year, Cuffman hardly calls 2004 a lost season.

"I've progressed a lot," he said. "My curveball has gotten 10 times better and I'm hitting 90 mph with my slider. My fastball has hit 91.

"If I can get to Class A after just turning 20, I'll be very, very happy with that."