BRADENTON, Fla.

What began as a friendly, one-on-one basketball game between a pair of pitchers at Pirate City turned into a tug-of-war that left Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl physically spent — all because of three words.

No, not Tommy John surgery.

Win. By. Two.

The winner would be whoever was first to score seven points, but it remained a one-point game until soaring into the 20s. A peanut gallery watched as Kuhl finally emerged victorious.

“If we had cameras out there, that game would be on ESPN Instant Classics,” Taillon deadpanned. “Seriously. It was just two guys with the will to win, going back and forth.”

Taillon and Kuhl know something about willpower, and theirs will be tested when Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers and catchers conduct their first workouts of spring training Wednesday.

Where Taillon is out for the season while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, Kuhl can relate to a season spent on the sidelines. The right-hander is 16 months removed from surgery, so this will be a major moment to show teammates how far his recovery has come.

“It’s definitely more exciting,” Kuhl said. “I’m trying to keep emotion out of it and move forward as normal. Last year, I knew I wasn’t going into any competition. I knew I was going down here to get physically right, to get ready for this next season.

“We tried to keep it as normal as possible, being out there with the groups. The level of excitement was missing, as I knew I wasn’t going to be involved in any games. It was a tough mental obstacle, to go out there but know that you can’t compete. It’s a complete 180 this year, so I’m super excited and ready to go.”

This spring, it’s Taillon’s turn. The Pirates ace will stretch and run with his teammates, then do side work while they throw bullpens. He has been cleared for soft-tossing up to 75 feet but has a long way to go before he can pitch off a mound again.

Playing basketball is a sign of progress. Taillon is three-plus weeks into his throwing program and was cleared to shoot a basketball and swing a golf club at the same time he was allowed to start throwing a baseball again.

That’s where Kuhl and Taillon can compare notes.

“Stuff like that, where there’s limitations at first, once you hit a certain point you become ‘normal’ again,” Kuhl said.

Added Taillon: “If I didn’t play baseball, I’m a completely rehabbed, healthy, normal, everyday human with my arm. I just have to build up to where I was.”

So, Taillon will have a keen interest in following Kuhl’s progress this spring. In 2018, Kuhl was 5-5 with a 4.55 ERA and 1.44 WHIP in 16 starts before having surgery that September. Kuhl expects to compete for a spot in the starting rotation, though he knows a bullpen role is a possibility.

Taillon will keep close tabs as he hopes to return as a starter, as well, after following the best season of his career in 2018 (14-10, 3.20 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 32 starts) by going 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA in seven starts last season before being shut down.

“I’ve rehabbed Tommy John before and came back as a starter, so I’m definitely rooting for guys like that,” Taillon said of Kuhl. “I’m rooting for (Nathan) Eovaldi and guys who had two of them to be starters. I’ve got the ability to start in the big leagues. I know that, so that’s my goal, to get back to that level.

“After my first one, I rehabbed and came back a starter and didn’t miss a start — outside of cancer — for three or four years, so I’m pretty confident I can do it again.”

That sentence is simply amazing, so I asked Taillon, “Do you realize how rare it is to say that?” He stopped and smiled, knowing he’s throwing pain-free and without soreness the next day only six months removed from a second Tommy John surgery.

“Probably only a few people can say that,” Taillon said.

Kuhl can relate Taillon’s frustration, given he was in the same predicament last spring. Conversely, Kuhl can serve as a symbol for where Taillon wants to be next spring. Meantime, Kuhl will be fighting for one of the spots in the starting rotation created by Taillon’s absence this season but the bullpen is in the back of his mind.

No wonder Kuhl refuses to put a percentage on his readiness.

“Right where I need to be,” Kuhl said. “Business as usual. I’m getting ready to go to work. I’m no longer a rehab guy. That’s the best way to put it.”

It’s Taillon’s turn to be the rehab guy. He faces a long road to recovery but already has bounced back from Tommy John surgery and testicular cancer. Taillon already has proven he has the will to win by two. To do it again? That would be an instant classic.

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