Injuries & Moves: No. 4 prospect Ashcraft back on IL
LATEST NEWS
Aug. 30: Pirates activate OF Andrew McCutchen; RHP Ben Heller (right shoulder inflammation) placed on the 15-day injured list
Getting McCutchen back will be a boost for this offense after he had been battling several injuries lately, including left knee inflammation. Entering Friday, he was hitting .235 with 16 home runs and a .741 OPS on the season.
Heller's second stint with the Pirates certainly went better than his first, but he still has an 11.25 ERA in eight appearances this year.
7-DAY/10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (recurrent right forearm injury; Pirates' No. 4 prospect, No. 91 overall)
Expected return: TBD
Ashcraft pitched one inning on Aug. 30 in his first start back from the injured list, but was placed on the injured list the following day. Ashcraft has excelled on the field, but has made three trips to the injured list since June 28, with right elbow inflammation causing him to miss a month and a half from mid-July to late August. (Last updated: Aug. 31)
RHP Ben Heller (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Heller was placed on the injured list on Aug. 30 with right shoulder inflammation. He has made eight appearances in the Majors this year, recording an 11.25 ERA. (Last updated: Aug. 30)
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes (lower back inflammation)
Expected return: September
Hayes was placed on the IL on Aug. 19 due to lower back inflammation, which also sidelined him in May for an 18-day IL stint. The team is gathering more information on his lumbar spine injury, and while he is not doing baseball activities at this time, he is doing rehab exercises.
General manager Ben Cherington said on his 93.7 The Fan radio show on Aug. 25 that he was optimistic that Hayes will play again this season. (Last updated: Aug. 28)
C Joey Bart (left hamstring discomfort)
Expected return: TBD
Bart exited in the first inning of the Pirates' win against the Reds on Aug. 25 with left hamstring discomfort. According to general manager Ben Cherington, the belief is that it is on the minor, low-grade side and that it won't be a lengthy injury. (Last updated: Aug. 26)
RHP Colin Holderman (right wrist sprain)
Expected return: Early September
Holderman will make at least one more rehab appearance with Triple-A Indianapolis, even though he has been around the Major League club at PNC Park on Aug. 24-25. He started that rehab assignment on Aug. 20. (Last updated: Aug. 25)
60-DAY IL
RHP Daulton Jefferies (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Jefferies began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 30. This comes shortly after he threw a live batting practice with Triple-A Indianapolis last week and came out of it feeling good. (Last updated: Aug. 30)
RHP Hunter Stratton (ruptured left patella tendon)
Expected return: 2025
Stratton underwent surgery to repair his ruptured patella tendon on Aug. 26. The projected return to competition is seven to 10 months. Stratton suffered the injury chasing a loose ball and then sliding into the limestone behind home plate at PNC Park. (Last updated: Aug. 28)
LHP Marco Gonzales (left forearm strain)
Expected return: 2025
Gonzales will undergo surgery on his left flexor tendon in early September. If that is the extent of his injury, the expected return to full competition is nine to 12 months. Gonzales made seven starts for the Pirates this year, going 1-1 with a 4.54 ERA. (Last updated: Aug. 28)
LHP Ryan Borucki (left triceps inflammation)
Expected return: September
Borucki started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Aug. 17 and has made three appearances, allowing one run in three innings. He had his first rehab assignment shut down last month after feeling symptoms in his left forearm and elbow, but started throwing again after receiving an injection in early August. General manager Ben Cherington has reiterated that he is confident Borucki will return this season. (Last updated: Aug. 25)
C Endy Rodríguez (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
The switch-hitting Rodríguez was at PNC Park for a check-up on Aug. 2 and took batting practice from both sides of the plate. He’s also pain-free when throwing and doing some work at catcher and first base. General manager Ben Cherington said there is a chance Rodríguez could play Minor League games at first base or DH by the end of the season. Nothing has been decided, but since there haven’t been any hiccups with his rehab, it is on the table. (Last updated: Aug. 4)
RHP Johan Oviedo (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Oviedo started a throwing program at the Pirates' Florida complex the week of May 20 upon crossing the six-month mark from his surgery. As of early August, he is throwing out to 105 feet. (Last updated: Aug. 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)