Polanco back to work
Gregory Polanco resumes workouts after COVID-19 diagnosis.
ST. LOUIS — Gregory Polanco has produced the necessary negative tests to receive clearance after he was diagnosed with the coronavirus and has resumed workouts at PNC Park, Pirates manager Derek Shelton said Saturday before a 91 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
Shelton disclosed that Polanco had tested positive for COVID-19 on July 17 after the outfielder had missed the previous three days of “summer camp” workouts. Shelton and Joe Musgrove praised Polanco for speaking up early in the process after he felt symptoms, theoretically eliminating the spread to teammates.
Polanco should return next week. Although Shelton offered some caution, explaining that they wouldn’t rush him and would have to see how his body responds, it’s hard to imagine Polanco sitting for too long in a 60game season.
Players returning from a positive COVID-19 test must produce two negative tests spaced at least 24 hours apart. They also must undergo an EKG and a physical.
Polanco is one of five Pirates players who have tested positive for COVID-19. The others are reliever Blake Cederlind, outfielder Socrates Brito, closer Keone Kela and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. All but Kela have returned.
Kela has had difficulty producing negative tests, even though he quarantined for more than three weeks and never had symptoms. Shelton said Friday that nothing had changed with Kela’s status.
The Pirates start a threegame series at home Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers. They’re off Thursday before traveling to Chicago for three against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Without Polanco, the Pirates started Guillermo Heredia in right field Friday in a 5-4 loss to the Cardinals. Cole Tucker manned that spot Saturday while bumping Heredia over to center, giving Jarrod Dyson a day off.
“He played there during the exhibition games,” Shelton said of Tucker, whose previous major league experience came at shortstop. “We were happy with the work he’s done and the work he’s done with [first-base/ outfielders coach] Tarrik [Brock] and how he’s kind of taken to it.
“Trying to get guys on the field as we get into the season starting and figured with the night/day coming into [Saturday] . ... It was just a perfect scenario to get him out there.”
Brault to start
Shelton also announced that Steven Brault would start the home opener Monday. He later hinted that the left-hander likely wouls be part of a piggybacking situation.
“I would say there’s a chance you may see someone else in that situation, too,” Shelton said.
The manager declined to say who would follow Brault, but the smart bet is Chad Kuhl, who would be pitching in a major league game for the first since Tommy John surgery.
Relying on two guys to gobble up about six innings has been a strategy the Pirates have flirted with during summer camp. It makes sense, too, as Brault and Kuhl are coming off injuries. (Brault endured shoulder trouble last season and again in spring training.)
JT Brubaker and Chris Stratton are two other pitchers the Pirates have who could fit into that role, but it’s hard to imagine Shelton using either ahead of Kuhl.
“We’re going to be flexible with it,” Shelton said. “We have a couple options. It would just depend on our usage here the next two days.”
Brault going Monday means Derek Holland will start Tuesday before the starting rotation comes back around Wednesday to Joe Musgrove.
Staying in touch
With baseball returning to PNC Park this week — albeit without fans — the Pirates on Saturday announced a bunch of stuff they will try to do to virtually connect with those who follow the team.
Instead of the ballpark scoreboard, the Pirates are touting a second-screen experience via Pirates.com, MLB’s Ballpark app, social media channels and the ingame broadcast on AT&T SportsNet.
A few of those in-game items include a baseball quiz, hat shuffle and even a virtual pierogi race. As a thank you, the Pirates also sent their season ticket holders two “Ballpark Experience in a Box” gift packs.
Included in those are a PNC Park 20th season fleece pullover; a Josh Bell bobblehead; Pirates-themed hand hand sanitizer and masks; a Pirates drawstring bag and more.
For a complete list of ingame promotional content and content distributed to season-ticket holders, visit Pirates.com.
The Pirates also will honor local health workers, medical professionals and first responders Monday as part of pregame ceremonies.
Allegheny Health Network employee Fred Neverman will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, while Babette Saunders — an 18year emergency room clerk at Jefferson Hospital — will sing the national anthem.
A moment of silence will be held to remember the lives lost during the coronavirus pandemic.