PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A couple of the Pirates best players at AA got some good injury news from Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk on Wednesday.
Starting pitcher, and picked for the Futures Game next week in Denver at the All-Star Game, Roansy Contreras examined in Pittsburgh after a rain-shortened start on June 30. The 21-year-old right diagnosed with a forearm muscle strain.
"That is very encouraging news at this time," said Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk. "Unfortunately not short term, but long term. We are hopeful he will resume playing catch in 2 to 4 weeks and then build up and get him back to game activity and finish the season strong."
Contreras, acquired from New York in the Jameson Taillon trade, was the Pirates best pitcher in the system this year at 3-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 9 starts. In 46 innings, the right-hander struck out 65 and walked 11 with a 0.91 WHIP.
Shortstop Oneil Cruz left after the same Altoona game against Hartford with a similar injury. The diagnosis is also similar as Cruz has a forearm strain. The injury is a little milder than his teammate and the projection is the 22-year-old can return to full baseball activities in 2 to 3 weeks.
The 6'7" infielder, who came over from the Dodgers for Tony Watson, hit .316 with 6 doubles, a triple and 5 home runs with a .363 on-base percentage in June. Overall Cruz is hitting .289 with 10 doubles, 3 triples, 9 homers and 10 stolen bases this year.
