PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) - Pirates Manager Derek Shelton confirmed on Friday that closer Keone Kela will not be available when the season starts next Friday.
He was placed on the 10-day Injured List on Friday for undisclosed reasons.
Shelton would not give a reason for the injury during a zoom call.
The 27-year-old Kela has not been with the team at any point during Spring Training 2.0.
The Pirates are already down multiple pitchers this season, with Jameson Taillon and Chris Archer out for the entire 2020 campaign.
Shelton didn’t say who the closer would be for the Bucs to begin the season, and said they use multiple options.
"We will probably play the leverage of the situation," Shelton said."I don't know if we will go with one certain person. I'm pretty sure we won't go with one certain person. Instead of having a set-up guy or a closer or whatever it is, we will just play by what we feel is the best guy for the situation."