Cervelli better; some hurdles remain
Francisco Cervelli sat in or 4 weeks,” Tomczyk said. his corner of the Pirates “There’s not a lot from a clubhouse Wednesday afternoon, medical perspective — athletic performing the familiar training, physical therapy, task of adjusting his leg strength and conditioning pads. A couple of months — that he needs to do. ago, Cervelli tinkering with We’re just waiting for those catching equipment final clearances from our would’ve gone unnoticed. doctors, the commissioner’s Not now. office and the association.”
After catching bullpens Are they close? thrown by Keone Kela each “That’s always fluid,” of the past two days at PNC Tomczyk continued. “Our Park, Cervelli continues his guidance by the experts has progression toward catching been to continue to advance again this season. his catching progression. As
Pirates director of sports you’ve seen, he’s now being medicine Todd Tomczyk admitted exposed to having a potential Wednesday there’s foul tip off the mask. not much more for Cervelli That’s a step in the right direction.” to do from a recovery standpoint. He simply needs to Cervelli has not caught in keep doing what he’s doing, a game since May 25, when hope his head cooperates he suffered at least his sixth and eventually receive the concussion since 2011. With proper go- aheads from his 48 games left after Wednesday, doctors, commissioner Rob it’s certainly reasonable Manfred’s office and the to think that Cervelli could MLB Players Association. catch again in 2019. He also
“I think you’ve seen the will be an unrestricted free body of work he’s put agent after this season, and through during the past 3 ½ Cervelli would likely want to prove to other teams that he’s healthy and capable of handling the job.
Polanco progressing
Tomczyk also said that Gregory Polanco ( left shoulder inflammation) has been cleared to resume baseball activities, although how much is being regulated.
“Continues to make progress with his range of motion,” Tomczyk said. “Continues to make progress with his biomechanics of throwing and hitting. He has resumed all baseball activities. That’s very encouraging news there.”
The next step for Polanco, Tomczyk said, involved increasing the volume of work to better replicate “gamelike intensities and gamelike distances.”
Polanco has not played an MLB game since June 16. During a rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis, Polanco felt something pull while reaching for a slider low and away. The Pirates chose to treat the shoulder issue with rest and a series of anti- inflammatories, and it might have worked.
“We need to continue to build up the swing volume, continue to build up the throwing volume and get him in a position to play in games,” Tomczyk said.
Other updates
• Tomczyk said the Pirates are in the process of scheduling Jameson Taillon’s right elbow flexor tendon surgery for early next week.
• Clay Holmes ( right triceps inflammation) will have a second rehab assignment Thursday with Class AA Altoona.
• Tom Koehler, who has not pitched in a MLB game since Sept. 29, 2017, because of lingering shoulder issues and season- ending surgery last summer, pitched Tuesday for the Gulf Coast League Pirates. Koehler allowed two earned runs on two hits in two- thirds of an inning with one strikeout.
Keller time?
Although it’s not official, it looks like Mitch Keller could make his return to the majors Tuesday in Anaheim, Calif. The Pirates will start Chris Archer, Joe Musgrove and Steven Brault this weekend in St. Louis, which would put Wednesday’s starter — Trevor Williams — on track to start Monday, if they wanted to keep him on turn.
Keller was supposed to pitch Wednesday, although Class AAA Indianapolis’ game got rained out. Assuming Keller pitches Thursday, he would be on turn to go again Tuesday, where the Pirates have a hole after sending Dario Agrazal to Class AAA.