Injuries & Moves: Reynolds to bereavement list; Bae recalled
LATEST NEWS
July 26: OF Bryan Reynolds added to bereavement list; INF/OF Ji Hwan Bae recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis
Reynolds, the Pirates' most productive hitter this season, was added to bereavement list on Friday. He was a late scratch against the Cardinals on Thursday with back spasms.
Bae will fill the void. The 25-year-old is slashing .373/.421/.510 this month in Triple-A and was 5-for-24 in eight games with the Pirates this season.
July 26: RHP Hunter Stratton activated off 15-day IL; LHP Josh Fleming designated for assignment
Stratton said this was the first time in his career the he suffered an injury at any level. He made three appearances as part of his rehab assignment between the Pirates' Florida Complex League team and Single-A Bradenton with no issues and will be available immediately out of the bullpen.
Fleming had a 4.02 ERA heading in 25 games, including three starts.
7-DAY/10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
LHP Bailey Falter (left triceps tendinitis)
Expected return: Soon
Falter tossed three innings -- 60 pitches for 42 strikes -- in his rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on July 24. Falter's last MLB start was on July 6, so he has satisfied the minimum amount of down time to be activated from the injured list. (Last updated: July 26)
RHP Hunter Stratton (right triceps strain)
Expected return: Soon
Stratton has made three appearances as part of his rehab assignment between the Pirates' Florida Complex League team and Single-A Bradenton with no issues. Stratton's rehab assignment started July 15, as he continues to build back up after suffering a right triceps strain in June. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Jared Jones (Grade 2 right lat strain)
Expected return: Second half
Jones threw on flat ground from the bullpen at PNC Park on July 23 and is playing catch out to 100-105 feet. The next step is to start throwing off of a "short box" slope, as director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk put it. Jones will throw a bullpen this weekend. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (forearm tightness; No. 4 on Pirates Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: TBD
Ashcraft was placed on the injured list on July 12 with recurrent symptoms of lateral forearm tightness. The team got a second opinion from the surgeon of record, Dr. Keith Meister, who did Ashcraft's Tommy John procedure in 2021 and confirmed it was muscle-related on the outside forearm. He is not pitching in games currently, but he is playing catch on flat ground with the hope that he could return to the mound in seven to 10 days. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Daulton Jefferies (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Jefferies was placed on the injured list July 6 after throwing two innings of scoreless relief to close out the Pirates' win against the Mets on July 5. There's no timetable for a return yet for Jefferies, who has pitched four games with Pittsburgh after being acquired from the Giants in May. (Last updated: July 6)
60-DAY IL
LHP Ryan Borucki (left triceps inflammation)
Expected return: 2024
Borucki’s Minor League rehab assignment that started on June 25 has been paused. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he wants the team to be cautious since they are dealing with a nerve issues. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk acknowledged that nerve injuries can flare up and there can be good days and bad, which is why Borucki's recovery has not been linear. He will pitch on July 23. (Last updated: July 26)
C Endy Rodríguez (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
The switch-hitting Rodríguez is hitting off of a tee right-handed, and it's been discussed whether he could potentially bat as a designated hitter in Minor League games this year. Nothing has been decided, but since there haven't been any hiccups with his rehab, it is on the table. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Johan Oviedo (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Oviedo started a throwing program at the Pirates' Florida complex the week of May 20 after crossing the six-month mark from his surgery. As of early July, he is throwing out to 90 feet. (Last updated: July 2)
RHP Dauri Moreta (UCL surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Moreta underwent UCL reconstruction surgery in March, confirming fears that he will not pitch in 2024. The team anticipates a full recovery in approximately 14-16 months, with the hope that it might be on the shorter side since he is a reliever. Moreta is in Bradenton, Fla., going through the strengthening and condition phase of the rehab process, and won’t begin playing catch until at least September. (Last updated: July 2)