MINNEAPOLIS — Chad Kuhl is expected to begin a throwing program when the Pirates return to PNC Park this week, and the goal is to prepare the right-handed pitcher to throw in the major leagues sometime before the end of the season.
Kuhl has been on the disabled list since July 3 after suffering a right forearm strain while pitching against the Mets at Citi Field on June 27. He's performed gripping exercises and recently began throwing weighted balls to strengthen the ligaments. Although the Pirates are running out of time, the hope is to get Kuhl ready to pitch in the majors next month, either as a starter or a reliever.
"That is the goal, to get him to have some competitive innings, " Todd Tomczyk, the team's director of sports medicine, told reporters in a conference call Wednesday morning. "Obviously we're running out of days in the calendar. Not sure, still need to sit down with the organization — Clint [Hurdle], Neal [Huntington], Ray [Searage] — [to determine] starter or reliever. But I think based on where we are in the season, the goal is to have him obviously get in a rehab assignment in the minor leagues first and then have him pitch some meaningful innings in September for the big-league club."
Kuhl, 25, had a 4.55 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 81 strikeouts in 85 innings over 16 starts this season. He was transferred to the 60-day disabled list last month and will likely require a few minor-league rehab appearances before getting promoted to the major leagues. However, the Pirates may not have enough time to stretch him out to start again this season.
With the rotation now full after the addition of Chris Archer, they'll likely try to use Kuhl as a reliever once rosters expand next month, which could serve as his audition for next season. Archer, Jameson Taillon, Trevor Williams, Joe Musgrove and Ivan Nova are all under contract next season, leaving Kuhl without a clear role.
He isn't eligible to be activated from the disabled list until August 26.
“A lot of exercises that I would normally do if I was completely healthy, so a lot of gripping, a lot of shoulder care, forearm work," Kuhl said at Target Field. "We’re kind of doing stuff that feels normal again, so I feel like we’re close to throwing.”
Also addressed in Tomczyk's weekly update with reporters:
• Right-handed relievers Nick Burdi (Tommy John) and A.J. Schugel (shoulder discomfort) both had their rehab assignments transferred to Triple-A Indianapolis, and one of the two will start the second game of a doubleheader tonight. Burdi, a 25-year-old acquired at the Rule 5 Draft in September, last pitched in a game July 31 for Double-A Altoona and was temporarily shut down after experiencing some soreness. He allowed three runs in four innings there.
Schugel, 29, pitched three innings for High-A Bradenton this month and made six appearances before experiencing a setback. The injury initially occurred during his first appearance in spring training, preventing him from making the big-league roster and keeping him off a mound for nearly a month. He had a 1.41 WHIP in 32 innings for the Pirates last season.
• Shortstop Jung Ho Kang will be evaluated by Dr. Edward Birdsong of Allegheny Health Network later this week and is expected to resume baseball activities once the incision heals from the left wrist surgery he underwent earlier this month. Kang, who has a club option for $5.5 million next season, has not played in a game since June 24.
• Infielder Sean Rodriguez, placed on the disabled list with a left abdominal strain Aug. 7, has resumed baseball activities — he took batting practice here at Target Field Tuesday afternoon — but is not expected to be activated when he's eligible to come off the DL on Thursday.