Pirates’ Taillon has surgery for suspected testicular cancer
PITTSBURGH >> Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon underwent surgery Monday morning for suspected testicular cancer.
The right-hander had the surgery at Allegheny General Hospital.
After alerting the team’s medical staff of an abnormality, Taillon, 26, consulted with Dr. John C. Lyne during the weekend. Lyne performed the surgery.
The recommended treatment plan for Taillon is pending further testing. Taillon remains on the 10-day disabled list.
“Today I lost a piece of my ‘manhood,’” Taillon said in a statement posted to his Twitter account. “But today I’m feeling like more of a man than I ever have. My journey hasn’t been the smoothest. But it is my journey and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”
The surgery is the latest setback for Taillon, a first-round pick by the Pirates who underwent Tommy John surgery in 2014 and had surgery to address a sports hernia in 2015. He reached the majors in 2016 and is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA in six starts this season.
“Jameson has again proven to us what a strong person he is by the way in which he has reacted to this development . ... ” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. “We have told Jameson that our only priority is his health and well-being. His teammates, our coaches, baseball staff and entire organization will support him in his recovery in every possible way, and we will keep him in our thoughts and prayers.”
Cubs place Heyward on DL, trade ’Nova’s Szczur to Padres
DENVER >> The Chicago Cubs have placed outfielder Jason Heyward on the 10-day disabled list with a sore knuckle on his right hand.
The move is retroactive to Saturday. Heyward is hitting .253 with three homers and 17 RBIs.
The Cubs also traded outfielder Matt Szczur of Villanova to San Diego for minor league right-hander Justin Hancock. Szczur was designated for assignment Saturday to make roster room for a fresh arm in an overworked bullpen, a difficult choice for the Cubs. He hit .211 with three RBIs for Chicago this season.
Mets says Harvey will return to mound Friday
NEW YORK >> Matt Harvey is set to rejoin the Mets’ rotation Friday at Milwaukee after serving a three-day suspension for not showing up at Citi Field for a game last weekend.
“You make a mistake. You stand up be accountable and move on. And you know what people forget about it,” Mets manager Terry Collins said Monday, a day after general manager Sandy Alderson revealed the discipline for the 28-year-old pitcher.
Harvey was sent home from the ballpark Sunday before his scheduled start against Miami, yet another flap for a pitcher fined for missing a mandatory team workout before the 2015 playoffs.
Collins said Harvey will return to the Mets on Tuesday and will have to explain what happened to his teammates. Collins said Harvey will decide “if he wants to do it in a group, which is the easiest, I always think, or if he wants to do it individually.”
“Matt made a mistake,” outfielder Jay Bruce said. “People make mistakes. There are team rules, and when team rules are broken there are consequences that have to be served, and obviously that’s happening.”
Trout’s hamstring looks OK, but not ready to play
OAKLAND >> Los Angeles Angels star outfielder Mike Trout was pleased that an MRI on his tight left hamstring showed no damage but is not ready to return to the lineup.
“You never want to take an MRI. It’s tough. But hearing the news, it relieves me a little bit,” Trout said.
Trout did not start Monday’s game against the Athletics, sitting out for the fourth time in five games.