CINCINNATI — Francisco Cervelli isn't ready to give up on catching and wants to play the position for five to seven more years until retirement.
Cervelli, on the seven-day concussion disabled list for the second time in the past month and fourth time in the past 14 months, went through a full workout Saturday at Great American Ball Park, including taking ground balls at first base, and told reporters he's "close" to being able to return to the field. Cervelli, who was struck by four foul balls last week, described this latest incident as more of a freak occurrence than a reoccurring problem and expressed confidence his post-concussion symptoms won't return.
However, he has yet to be cleared by doctors and questions remain how much he will play behind home plate once he's activated.
"The symptoms came back because I got hit," Cervelli said before first pitch against the Reds Saturday night. "That’s the only reason. I don’t think it's going to happen many times like that one. Of course you’ve got to be concerned about your long-term health, but I don’t think it’s that crazy. I just want to play, man. I just want to play and play five, seven more years and that’s it. The most important thing is do everything (with) my therapy, my exercise for after baseball."
Cervelli, 32, had only five games between stints on the disabled list. His latest issues began June 10, in Chicago, when he took a foul ball off the left side of his jaw. It was the third time in two weeks he was struck by a foul tip. He returned three days later in Phoenix, but he was placed on the disabled list again June 22 after experiencing what he called a "hangover."
Cervelli was barred from working out for a week and the Pirates activated him from the disabled list July 8. He went 1 for 17 at the plate over five games and took four foul balls off the mask before reporting post-concussion symptoms to the team's medical staff. He was examined by Dr. James Valeriano, a neurologist at Allegheny General Hospital who recommended Cervelli not play the final two days before the All-Star break.
It was the fourth time in the past two seasons Cervelli had been placed on the concussion disabled list, and the sixth time he's either required a DL stint or missed time because of a head injury. He was on the disabled list twice last season after being hit by a foul ball in the mask in Baltimore.
Both Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates' director of sports medicine, and Neal Huntington expressed concern about Cervelli's long-term health, although neither would rule out Cervelli continuing to catch.
"Our first and primary, and really only, concern is Francisco Cervelli, his long-term well-being," Neal Huntington said last Sunday at PNC Park. "We’re getting him the best available medical care we can. We’re getting him the best medical evaluations and recommendations that we can, and we’ll see where we go from there. You are right, there is concern that multiple concussions, where do we go long-term? But we’re not at that point where we need to or want to have those discussion just yet. Our focus right now is getting him healthy and then we’ll start to think about baseball at that point in time.”
The Pirates seem to be forming a contingency plan, though. Cervelli began taking ground balls at first base prior to this latest DL stint — a position he's started only six games at in his career — and he switched to a hockey-style catcher's mask to better protect himself from foul balls.
Now, the Pirates must decide how to monitor his work behind home plate. Cervelli, their highest-paid player, is under contract through next season at $11 million for 2019. He was having a career year behind home plate, throwing out 11 runners attempting to steal and hitting a career-high nine home runs. But Elias Diaz has proven to be a capable replacement.
Diaz, 27, has started 20 of the last 25 games and is batting .304 with eight doubles, seven home runs and 24 RBIs in 40 starts this season. He's batting .310 in 11 games this month and is 10 for 25 as the club's cleanup hitter. Diaz has also not allowed a passed ball and Jameson Taillon commended his work behind the plate following the 12-1 win over the Reds Friday night.
Cervelli isn't ready to walk away from the position, though. After all, he's been a full-time catcher for the past 14 years. He even has a catcher's mask tattooed on the inside of his left wrist.
Cervelli said he again experienced dizziness, vertigo and a "hangover" before being placed on the disabled list this time. He expressed confidence that following his rehabilitation plan will help address any potential long-term risks of head injuries.
"I’m not going to change my mentality," Cervelli said. "I love to be behind the plate. I’m taking ground balls at first, but that’s what I like to do. I think ... where [I can make] the difference is behind the plate."
The Pirates have yet to discuss with Cervelli how often and where he'll play upon being activated from the disabled list. Hurdle initially told reporters Saturday afternoon that Cervelli had yet to reengage in baseball activities, but Cervelli then took batting practice and went through his first full workout since reporting symptoms last week.
There is an increasing amount of data on the impact of repeated blows to the head, but Cervelli's desire to catch seems to outweigh his fear for his long-term health. Cervelli, though, didn't rule out changing his position down the road if the problems persist.
"They’ve got to see," he said. "I think I can do it. It’s in my mind. If down the road I have to change, it’s what it is. Right now I like to catch more than anything else."