Archer on schedule after hernia operation taken in Bradenton, Fla. (Courtesy of StepOutside.org)

CHRIS ARCHER - MATT SUNDAY/DKPS

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Chris Archer is right on schedule in his rehab from bilateral hernia surgery.

On Monday, Archer played catch for the fourth time since the surgery, which was performed in November, as the Pirates opened their minicamp at Pirate City. The 30-year-old always begins his throwing program on Jan. 1.

“I feel fine,” Archer said. “I don’t really have to go all out off the mound for about three more months (the Pirates open March 28 against the Reds at Cincinnati). I’ll be ready to go. I’m not worried about that at all. I'm on schedule."

The Pirates acquired Archer from the Rays last season in a July 31 trade.

While pitching for Tampa Bay on June 2 against the Mariners, Archer strained an abdominal muscle on his left side and wound up on the disabled list for five weeks. Archer was not diagnosed with the hernia until November but believes it occurred simultaneously with the abdomen strain.

Doctors gave Archer the options of rest and rehabilitation for four months or surgery. He decided to go under the knife.

“I had it for four months and it never truly went away,” Archer said. “I thought it was best to have them open me up and be done with it.”

2. Gregory Polanco was as excited as anyone in camp Monday and that was understandable. He hit balls off a tee, his first time swinging a bat since undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder in September. Polanco said he felt better than expected and may be cleared to start playing catch as soon as Tuesday. There is much more on Polanco here.

3. Joe Musgrove continues to have a seamless recovery from October surgery for a stress fracture in his pelvis and an abdominal tear. “I feel great,” he said. “Everything has gone smoothly, and I’ll be ready to go when spring training begins (Feb. 12).”

4. Ray Searage is recovering well from back surgery in September that caused him to miss the last two weeks of the season. The veteran pitching coach is still walking with a limp but is moving much better than last year. Searage also underwent surgery to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome in his left hand.

5. Jeff Banister was happy to be back with the Pirates, who hired him as a special assistant to Neal Huntington on Sunday. “It’s good to be home,” Banister told me. “Hopefully, I can help out and add some value to the organization.” Banister spent four years as the Rangers’ manager before being fired in September. Prior to that, he logged 29 years with the Pirates as a player, coach and minor league manager.

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