Kela pitches simulated game, makes significant progress, too
The banged-up Pirates might be less so soon.
Keone Kela, who has not pitched since May 4 because of shoulder inflammation, threw a 21-pitch simulated game on the mound Wednesday at PNC Park, mixing fastballs and curveballs and looking “aggressive when he was doing it,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
Kela is one of a few injured players who could return soon.
“He wasn’t just going through the motions,” Hurdle said of Kela, who appeared in 14 games before the injury, working 11⅔ innings with a 4.63 ERA with 11 strikeouts. “He was getting after it.”
The plan, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk explained during his weekly meeting with reporters, is for everyone to reconvene Thursday and see how Kela feels. If all is well, a rehab assignment is likely next.
Also nearing rehab assignments are Corey Dickerson and Jung Ho Kang.
Dickerson has been on the injured list since April 4 with a right posterior shoulder strain and started throwing to bases Tuesday. He did that again Wednesday and took swings on two different occasions — against Kela and during usual batting practice.
“We’ll see how he comes out of that,” Tomczyk said. “He’s getting close to having it be discussed about restarting or starting a rehab assignment.”
Kang is hitting and throwing inside without any restrictions, Tomczyk said. The third baseman, who last played May 11, has been dealing with a left-side strain.
“We anticipate him hitting on the field in the coming days to potentially have a discussion about him beginning some type of rehab assignment in the near future,” Tomczyk said.
Lonnie Chisenhall is away from Class AAA Indianapolis for personal reasons, Tomczyk confirmed. During his absence, Chisenhall has continued to experience tightness in his left calf. “We’re still working through what that means and what the next steps will be,” he said.
Among the other healthrelated updates Tomczyk offered:
• Trevor Williams (right side strain) is not throwing, but he is doing rehab activities — working on his shoulder and core. “He’s responding well to that at this point in time. We continue to be optimistic that this will not be as long as potentially it could be.” Wednesday marked six days postinjury for Williams. Tomczyk said the Pirates are “still working through whether we’re going to reassess” whenever Williams’ 10-day IL stint is up.
• The right biceps/elbow pain Nick Burdi has been experiencing has not gone away, although Tomczyk said that was a “a normal, expected result for what he’s dealing with at this point in time.” The Pirates are still determining whether or not surgery will be necessary.
• Erik Gonzalez, who has a fractured left clavicle, will get another X-ray Thursday and could, based on his healing, start to do more baseball-related activities.
• Tomczyk also said minor-leaguer JT Brubaker (right forearm strain) has started a throwing program, while shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz is “full weight-bearing” on his previously broken left foot, working his way back to baseball activities.
Humbled Hurdle
Wednesday marked the 2,500th MLB game Hurdle has managed.
While the Pirates manager didn’t drive to work thinking about the accomplishment — OK, he wasn’t aware of it — that is a lot of games; Hurdle become the 33rd man to manage 2,500 or more.
“I’m humbled, always, at the opportunity to manage at the major league level,” Hurdle said. “Always. Every day.
“I don’t take a day for granted. I don’t take a day off.
“That’s a lot of games. It’s a lot of opportunities.”