Polanco’s shoulder sore, rehab shut down

ST. LOUIS — The Pirates have shut down Gregory Polanco’s rehabilitation assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis because of recurrent posterior left shoulder soreness, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday.

Polanco, who has been on the injured list since June 22 ( retroactive to June 19), left Sunday’s Class AAA game after just two plate appearances because he felt some tightness in his shoulder, which was surgically repaired this past offseason.

Tomczyk said what Polanco has been experiencing is absolutely related to that surgery, which was performed Sept. 12, 2018, to stabilize an acute left shoulder dislocation.

“This posterior shoulder soreness is related to the surgery,” Tomczyk said. “We’re still in the process of determining, ‘ Is this musculature? Is this scar tissue?’

“Basically we’re trying to work with our medical experts, our doctors, to put Gregory in the best place to resume playing this year.”

Polanco is on his way to Pittsburgh and will be examined further by Pirates doctors, Tomczyk said.

Polanco started this rehab assignment July 4 and hit .240 ( 6 for 25) in 8 games with 4 extra- base hits, 6 RBIs and 7 walks.

Tomczyk said Polanco did not report any “significant or more than significant shoulder soreness” when he left for his rehab assignment; however, Polanco said Sunday that he “didn’t feel comfortable getting to a pitch outside.”

“That is a new complaint,” Tomczyk said. “His range of motion, we knew that was going to be a challenge for him most of the year. He has worked his tail off to continue to compensate.”

There’s no structural damage to the shoulder, Tomczyk said, but the Pirates need to find out more about why Polanco is continuing to experience issues.

“The shoulder is strong,” Tomczyk said. “The shoulder is stable based on our medical team and doctor in Indianapolis. We just need to figure out more granular details of what’s causing the soreness and the discomfort in the back of the shoulder.”

More Cervelli talk

The Pirates remain very much in the process of evaluating Francisco Cervelli, who’s continuing to field ground balls and hit — but not catch.

Current progress for Cervelli has included cognition training, in which he runs, then shakes his head from side- to- side, then has to read an eye chart or some other sign.

“He’s responding well to that,” Tomczyk said. “There are still some signs and symptoms that the medical experts, that the doctors want him to work through. He’s still working through those as we speak.”

Tomczyk also said that Cervelli requested a second opinion from UPMC concussion specialist Dr. Mickey Collins. That exam, which happened “shortly prior to the end of the All- Star break,” tracked with the Pirates’ diagnoses, Tomczyk said.

“I think what’s most important here with regards to Francisco is this is a collaborative effort for ultimately his short- and long- term health,” Tomczyk said.

“We are still working through the program. Ultimately we are assessing whether it is in Francisco’s best interest to resume playing. Once that is determined, we’ll have additional conversations with the experts to see if it makes the most sense for Francisco to resume catching.”

The rundown

Among the other injury updates Tomczyk gave:

• Keone Kela ( right shoulder inflammation) has experienced no issues in his rehab. He’ll throw Thursday with Class AAA Indianapolis.

• Steven Brault ( left shoulder strain) is throwing off flat ground from 90 feet. The Pirates expect him to throw off a slope this weekend.

• Jameson Taillon ( right elbow flexor tendon strain) is playing catch at about 90 feet and made five throws off a slope Tuesday. “Still assessing how the body and the arm has responded to that,” Tomczyk said. “At this time we anticipate to continue his throwing program on flat ground.”