Sisk K's 2 in first rehab outing with Triple-A Indianapolis

CINCINNATI – Evan Sisk was pitching as well as he ever had for the first three months of 2026. Then came the unexpected.

Near the end of June, Sisk began to feel some discomfort in the back of his elbow area. The soreness was gradual over time. Eventually, he needed a reset.

Sisk went on the injured list on July 4 (retroactive to July 1), stalling his season after he recorded 36 1/3 innings and a 2.23 ERA. Sisk made his return to the mound for Triple-A Indianapolis Thursday in a rehab assignment, tossing one scoreless inning while striking out two batters. His cutter reached 94 mph, and he threw 10 pitches.

“You never want to have to go on the IL, but things like this happen, and you just want to do your best to get back and be healthy to come back and help the team,” Sisk told MLB.com on Wednesday. “It's kind of been my mindset: I want to get right and then be able to come back and help.”

Sisk’s build-up to 100 percent has taken some time. He was shut down from throwing entirely from the start of the IL stint until July 18 in Cleveland.

Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Sisk’s progression included multiple bullpens and a live batting practice session. Sisk described the process as a grind.

“It was kind of a weird one,” Sisk said. “They didn't really set too many parameters on when I came back throwing, like how hard I was throwing this and that. They kind of just wanted to gauge how the arm was feeling after a few days of rest and treatment and stuff like that.”

Sisk’s first full season in the Pirates system has made the July 2025 trade well worth it. Pittsburgh acquired Sisk and No. 29 prospect Callan Moss for left-handed starter Bailey Falter. Sisk’s average exit velocity against is in the 99th percentile, while his expected batting average against is in the 94th.

The Pirates acquired Brandon Eisert from the White Sox with Sisk down to add another left-handed option in the middle innings. Eisert hasn’t matched Sisk’s productivity, posting a 7.71 ERA in seven innings.

The return of Sisk in the near future will only help Pittsburgh’s bullpen, as fellow lefties Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto find a groove.