Brewers injury updates: Pina, Hiura, Woodruff

ST. LOUIS -- Friday was a good day for Manny Piña, his best since suffering a concussion on a foul tip off his catcher’s mask eight days earlier against the Cubs. On Saturday, Pina took part in agility drills at Busch Stadium before the Brewers played the Cardinals. He had his fingers crossed for another good day.

It will take a series of them stacked together to get Pina back into a game, Brewers manager Craig Counsell has said.

“I was on the field in Miami, and I didn’t feel very well so they stopped me for a couple of days,” Pina said. “[Friday] was good. Today is good. [Sunday], I hope everything goes good, too.”

Pina is set to catch a bullpen session on Sunday, and the repetitive up-and-down motion from his crouch behind the plate will be a good test of whether his symptoms have subsided. He described the sensation after his unproductive workout in Miami as pressure in his head and sensitivity to the sounds of the stadium. Twice during the Brewers’ four-game series at Marlins Park, Pina was sent back to the team hotel. He has suffered concussions before, but none that lingered like this one.

Yasmani Grandal has handled the bulk of catching duty in Pina’s absence, though the Brewers did call up Jacob Nottingham for insurance while Pina is sidelined.

“This is one where we really have to go by what Manny says and how Manny feels before we can move forward,” Counsell said.

Other injury-related updates from Saturday:

• Keston Hiura took part in his first full on-field workout on Saturday since injuring his left hamstring, which included infield work, baserunning and batting practice. He appeared as a pinch-hitter during Saturday night's 5-2 win over the Cardinals, striking out in the ninth inning.

“It’s feeling better, but it’s kind of the same thing where it’s just a matter of time, whenever it feels good and whenever I feel confident in going all out,” Hiura said before the game. “It’s been two weeks, and for a Grade 2 hamstring [strain], that’s still fairly quick. I have to be patient with it.”

• Brandon Woodruff threw another bullpen session, which should be his final step before returning to active duty following a left oblique strain. Counsell said he won’t be able to answer until Sunday night whether the Brewers will use Woodruff in short stints at the start of games or out of the bullpen. For now, the team is not naming any probable starters for its four-game series against the Padres from Monday-Thursday at Miller Park.

Saladino scratched from Double-A game

The Brewers transferred infielder Tyler Saladino to Double-A Biloxi on Saturday for Game 4 of the Southern League Championship Series, not to bolster an affiliate for a must-win game -- the Shuckers trailed in the best-of-five series, 2-1 -- but to test the soundness of Saladino’s left shoulder.

He didn’t pass the test. Saladino, scheduled to hit cleanup, was scratched after experiencing tightness in that shoulder during pregame warmups.

Biloxi won on Saturday night to force a Game 5, which Counsell said Saladino was originally scheduled to stay to play in.

“Not having Keston back yet and not for sure there, and any other injuries that could pop up over the last weeks, I think, yes, there is a spot for [Saladino],” Counsell said.

Taylor makes highlight reel

Rookie outfielder Tyrone Taylor’s first career putout was eventful, to say the least. He ranged into foul territory and made a sliding catch of Yadier Molina’s fly ball leading off the seventh inning of Friday’s 10-0 Brewers loss, banging his left knee against the padded wall. Taylor’s knee was bruised and swollen and well-taped on Saturday afternoon, but he said he was OK.

“It’s pretty cool that opportunity happened,” he said.

Taylor joked about the swelling producing a “second knee” on Friday night, but he said he did not require X-rays.