Polanco 'happy' to be back from DL, Ortiz optioned back to Indy taken in Atlanta (Pirates)

Gregory Polanco is batting .252 this season. - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS

ATLANTA — Gregory Polanco's stint on the disabled list has come to an end.

Polanco, who suffered a left hamstring strain against the Diamondbacks on May 14, was reinstated to the 25-man roster Thursday morning before the Pirates' 12:10 p.m. game against the Braves at SunTrust Park, and outfielder Danny Ortiz was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for him.

The right fielder's stint lasted the minimum 10 days, but he will not start against the Braves in the series finale.



Polanco went through a full workout yesterday and took batting practice. He met with Clint Hurdle and head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk afterward when a decision was made for him to be activated.

"Everything was good [after the workout]," Polanco said. "I went outside to run. Everything was fine, everything worked the way I wanted it to. Clint and I met, and we're on the same page. I feel ready to play."

He owns a .252/.336/.370 slash line in 34 games, driving in nine runs with one home run. His nine RBI are three less than José Osuna has in 26 fewer at-bats, but he was trending upward before suffering the injury chasing a fly ball in Phoenix.

Polanco is on a four-game hitting streak with an RBI in each of those four games.

"A lot," Polanco said when asked if the timing of the injury was particularly frustrating. "For real. I was feeling a lot better with my swing and playing well. I was back in right field. Everything happens for a reason, though. I was kind of frustrated, but after that I was cool. I'm in a good place, and I'm ready."

His return will be welcomed by an offense that scored seven runs in the 10th inning of Wednesday night's 12-5 win over the Braves, when David Freese, Osuna and Jordy Mercer hit back-to-back-back home runs.

Ortiz, meanwhile, returns to Indianapolis after starting in center field Wednesday night and going 0-for-3 at the plate. He went 1-for-2 in eight games during this most recent stint with the Pirates.

Polanco is not the only outfielder getting an additional day off Thursday. Andrew McCutchen is not in the lineup for a second straight night after not starting Wednesday. He entered as a pinch-hitter and led off the 10th inning with a single, scoring the eventual winning run on a double by Gift Ngoepe, but later struck out on three pitches to end the inning.

Adam Frazier, who went 2-for-2 with a three-run homer and four walks Wednesday, will start in center field with Josh Harrison playing in left and Osuna in right. Polanco may not be starting in his first game back, but he's more than relieved that his stint on the disabled list did not last long.

"I'm always happy to be back, everything to be healthy, so I can do what I'm capable of doing," he said. "It's fun. I want to be with my boys out there. I came here to play, and I missed playing. I'm happy to be back, and hopefully I get into the game today."

• Jameson Taillon threw in his second bullpen session Thursday morning, using all 35 of his pitches.

Taillon, who underwent surgery for testicular cancer May 8, was cleared for his first session Tuesday and threw 25 pitches. He increased both the workload, and the competitiveness in this second workout, throwing to a live batter and working on sequences.

"I'm tired, but it's all good," Taillon said afterward. "This is a really good check for us."

Tomczyk told reporters Wednesday that the next step would be laid out following this second bullpen session. Taillon said a throwing program has not been laid out, but he's hoping to throw off a game mound soon.

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