PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In the lineup on Wednesday, Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is having occasional issues on the same ankle he broke sliding last year that cost him most of the season.
It's happened three times already this season. Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk explained what this means for the 25-year-old.
"The surgery continues to be stable and strong as it was late last year," Tomczyk said on Wednesday. "From time to time, he tweaks it. I don't want to use impinges, he just tweaks the ankle and it feels sore."
He added that is something they are going to work through. He said it was a pretty traumatic injury last year and every practice and game is going to make it stronger.
"Ideally we hope there's nothing, he feels nothing and he continues to play at the level that he's capable of and help us win baseball games," Tomczyk said. "With any professional athletes coming back from pretty significant injuries, it's more likely than not that things occur from time to time."
They've tried braces, taping and times where he has no brace or tape. Ideally they would want him to wear neither, but they will continue to monitor it throughout the year.
As for fear of long-term problems?
"No, I don't," Tomczyk said when asked if he worried about them. "As long as we continue to address those little foot intrinsics and ankle stability, the rest of the kinetic chain will help him continue to work through that."
Back with little Delay
Add another catcher to the mix soon, last year's back-up Jason Delay will go to Bradenton to start a rehab assignment in the near future. He caught Bailey Falter's bullpen session on Wednesday with no issues. That was a first since the knee injury. Tomczyk said everything is trending in a really good direction.
Marco update
Pirates GM Ben Cherington said on Sunday he expected Marco Gonzales to pitch again this season, Tomczyk shares his optimism. Gonzales hasn't thrown yet dealing with a flexor injury. Having had UCL reconstruction previously, they have confirmed the ligament was intact and that's good news moving forward. He is currently resting and will move towards a rehab program.
