PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Pirates medical updates including news about a pair of pitchers from the starting rotation, Bailey Falter and Jared Jones. Plus, positive news about catcher Endy Rodriguez and reliever Ryan Borucki’s issues.
Jared Jones
The rookie has resumed playing catch out to about 105 feet. For the first time he threw with a catcher on flat ground on Tuesday which is a new step forward. The next step is throwing off a slope, not a full mound, but what they call a ‘short box’ on Wednesday. He will ideally throw a bullpen this weekend.
After that, Jones will probably need another time off the slope throwing a side, maybe a live batting practice or two and then they will consider next steps.
“I think we are looking at, rough estimate, everything goes as we envision, seven to 10 days of a couple more bullpens and live BPs,” said Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk.
All things go according to plan, as August begins the Pirates are likely talking about Jones starting a rehab assignment somewhere.
Bailey starting
Left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter will pitch a game for AAA Indianapolis on a rehab assignment on Wednesday. Tomczyk said they will see how his body recovers before determining if he would need another minor league game. Falter is 4-7, 4.08 ERA, 1.20 WHIP over 17 starts, the last of which was July 6.
Borucki unknown
Left-handed reliever Ryan Borucki continues his rehab in Indy as he has been on-again, off-again with nerve issues in his arm. Tomczyk explained it’s common for that to flair up and those injuries don’t have a linear trajectory recovery so typically there will be some days good and some bad. Tomczyk said they’ve adjusted some treatments and he’s feeling good enough to pitch on Tuesday and they will regroup on Wednesday to see what is next.
Borucki has been out all but four games this season with left triceps inflammation. In his first full season with the Pirates in 2023, the 30-year-old was 4-0 with a 2.45 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and .183 batting average against in 40.1 innings.
Endy the catcher
He played in 57 MLB games at the end of the 2023 season, switch-hitting catcher Endy Rodriguez has no restrictions hitting from the left side and is also hitting now from the right side with no complications. Rodriguez is also playing catch beyond 100 feet after injuring his UCL (right elbow) in early November playing winter ball in the Dominican Republic. Rodriguez had surgery days after, initial thoughts he wouldn’t likely play again this year.
Now Rodriguez could be a designated hitter before the season is over, but not at the major league level, it would be somewhere in the minors.
"It was a possibility,” Tomczyk said of Rodriguez playing this year. “We didn't socialize it too much, but because there have been no hiccups with this rehab. It has been truly a linear rehab with no setbacks, which is remarkable. That's a testament to all the work Endy has done. That was a possibility and we're here now. We're going to see where it takes us."
Others
· RHP Hunter Stratton continues his rehab and has pitched in three game and is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday. He has reported no issues. Stratton has pitched in 29 games this year, 31.2 innings, 4.26 ERA, 1.11 WHIP
· RHP Braxton Ashcraft placed on the seven-day, minor league IL with some lateral forearm tightness. He is still playing catch on flat ground, but the Pirates are being cautious after he had Tommy John surgery in 2021. The 24-year-old has pitched in 15 games between AA and AAA this season with a 2.88 ERA, 72 innings, 76 strikeouts and 12 walks and a 1.07 WHIP.
· RHP Michael Burrows is officially back from Tommy John surgery, is off rehab and an active player. Tomczyk said he is ‘doing great’. Burrows has pitched six games in rehab, 0-2, 8.56 ERA, 13.2 innings, 1.90 WHIP, .298 batting average against. He was the Pirates Minor League pitcher of the year in 2022 after 111 strikeouts in 94.1 combined innings between AA and AAA with a 1.21 WHIP.