Kramer out 4-6 months after surgery on right hip
Outfielder Kevin Kramer, 26, had surgery on his right hip last week and will be out four to six months, the Pirates announced Wednesday.
The surgery was a labral repair to “address recent and chronic symptoms that prohibited Kramer from continuing his training in preparation for the 2020 season,” according to a news release.
Kramer played in spurts in the major leagues in 2018 and 2019 and struggled to gain traction in the batter’s box. In 79 at-bats, he hit just .152 with 10 RBIs over the span of 43 games. His ability to play multiple outfield positions as well as second base, makes him a valuable roster piece.
Kramer, the Pirates’ 2015 second-round pick, hit .260 last season at Class AAA Indianapolis, finishing second on the team with 54 RBIs.
With the likelihood of expanded rosters this season, Kramer probably was a candidate to stay in the majors, with an opportunity to put his offensive struggles from the past two years behind him. One silver lining, with a delayed season likely running into September, Kramer has a chance to get healthy and make a contribution.
A starting point
Manager Derek Shelton keeps checking the exhaustive list of rules and suggestions for baseball to return in a healthy manner this summer. Among the dos and don’ts are players not chewing and spitting sunflower seeds, showering at the ballpark, hitting in indoor batting cages or holding a runner on base too closely. That’s just a part of the list. “I think like we’ve seen, that’s an original draft or the first draft that we’re going to be able to make suggestions off it, and I think we’ll definitely come up with something that’s closer to normal or working,” Shelton said during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan.
“The hitting in cages, if you have two guys in there at one time, I don’t see how that would cause much of an issue. So I think that’s a working draft that’s going through. Like we’ve talked about numerous times, the fact that we’re starting to talk about actual baseball stuff is the most exciting thing, and I think once we get this proposal in people’s hands and people are able to talk back and forth about it, I think we’ll probably come to something that’s more workable for everyone.”
Praise for Polanco, Hayes
Two players — outfielder Gregory Polanco and third baseman Ke’Byron Hayes — drew plenty of praise from Shelton during the interview.
On Polanco, Shelton said he liked what he saw in spring training, noting that his energy on the basepaths and elsewhere was extremely high and that his attentiveness was heartening. He also was encouraged by what he has been able to glean about Polanco while the players are off.
“I’ve seen video of where [Polanco] is at recently, and health-wise, he looks awesome,” Shelton said. “I saw him moving around, doing some outfield stuff and throwing. Was really excited about it. So I’m excited where he’s at.”
Hayes, 23, drew equal praise, though, Shelton wasn’t ready to commit to the former first-round pick being in the majors this season. His first impression of Hayes, though, was interesting.
“Very rarely when you start to talk about those guys is defense the first thing you talk about,” Shelton said. “And that’s the first thing that everybody had conversations with me when I got the job. And then you watch him defensively, and he’s the guy that when you watch on the baseball field, you realize how good he is just by his actions. And defensively, he’s a very, very special player.
“Offensively, it’s coming, and it’s going to be there, and he’s going to be a really good player, and I’m really excited that he’s going to be our guy.”