BRADENTON, Fla. – Watching Gregory Polanco take batting practice during spring training workouts, it seems he is recovered from October surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
The ball is jumping off Polanco’s bat. He looks like a player ready to better the career-high 23 home runs he hit in 130 games last season for the Pirates.
However, throwing remains the issue with Polanco. He is throwing up to 100 feet but there is no timetable when his shoulder will be strong enough to attempt throws from the outfield.
“He’s still working through the throwing program,” Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday after the Pirates held a spring training workout at Pirate City. “We always talk about rehabs going day-to-day. Considering the significance of the surgery he underwent, he truly is day-to-day. How he responds to the volume of throwing will really indicate where we move forward and how we move forward.”
Polanco’s drives during BP aren’t happening by accident.
“The amount of work he’s put forward this season is awesome,” Tomczyk said. “He’s stronger than he’s ever been as a Pirate.”
• Chris Archer threw live batting practice for the first time Wednesday and Joe Musgrove had a bullpen session. Both underwent abdominal surgery in the offseason and Tomczyk said they are fully recovered and have no restrictions this spring.
• Recovering from Tommy John surgery, Chad Kuhl and Edgar Santana both played catch off flat ground from 60 feet Wednesday. They made 25 throws, rested for a few minutes, then made another 25.
• Elias Diaz missed Wednesday’s workout because of illness. However, he said he was feeling better by the afternoon and figures to take part in tomorrow’s drills.
• A day after Roberto Gomez was released because the Pirates had concerns about the results of his physical examination, the right-hander's locker had already been given away Wednesday. It will now be occupied by rookie righty Rookie Davis, who was signed to a minor-league contract Monday.
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