So much for the imminent return of Ke’Bryan Hayes.
The Pirates’ top prospect, who had appeared to be on track to return as soon as this weekend, re-aggravated his wrist injury while hitting against a machine Wednesday.
According to the team’s Director of Sports medicine, Todd Tomczyk, Hayes is returning to Pittsburgh for further examination.
Tomczyk said that since the alternate site games in Toledo were snowed out, Hayes joined the team in Detroit for some hitting work when he felt something that wasn’t quite right. “He simulated high-velocity swings,” Tomczyk explained, “and on one of final swings he felt a re-aggravation of his symptoms. So the plan moving forward is to get him back to Pittsburgh and get him examined by our medical experts and come up with the best and most appropriate plan to return him to play.”
I asked Tomczyk if they’re concerned that, even though Hayes had looked good and appeared to be close, if they may have rushed him through his rebab. “We will definitely reevaluate every step in the process and we’re still learning what that looks like right now,” Tomczyk answered.
“Unfortunately he did not return to competition as we had projected him to be; that was makes rehab games an important part of the process. What we don’t want to do is put Ke’Bryan in a position in a game where that would make it worse.”
In addition, outfielder Jared Oliva, who is consider their minor league outfielder closest to the majors, has a left internal oblique strain and will be out for at least four weeks.
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