Gregory Polanco is getting close to returning to the active roster, according to Neal Huntington.
The right fielder is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis as he recovers from shoulder surgery in September. He has progressed to the point where he could rejoin the Pirates sometime during a four-game series with the Diamondbacks that begins tomorrow night at PNC Park.
“I can’t say enough or give Gregory enough credit about the way he has attacked the entire rehab process,” Huntington said during his weekly Sunday meeting with the media. "He’s worked very hard and it’s good to see him in a position where he is just about ready to play in the major leagues again.”
Polanco has played in five games with Indianapolis coming into today and is 6-for-20 with a double. He has also made throws without incident with Indy and High-A Bradenton, where he played four rehab games earlier this month.
“He won’t be the worst-throwing outfielder in the major leagues, but he won’t be quite the Gregory Polanco we know,” Huntington said. “He is going to have to make throws, though, and he’s shown he has been able to do that.”
In other news from Huntington’s session:
• The Pirates have yet to determine a timetable for Erik Gonzalez and Starling Marte, who had a violent collision Friday night while chasing a fly ball and were placed on the IL on Saturday.
Gonzalez is on the 60-day IL with a fracture left clavicle and Marte is on the 10-day list with bruises to his abdominal wall and right quad.
• Kevin Newman could go on a rehab assignment this week. He has been sidelined for more than a week with a lacerated right ring finger.
• Huntington said the explanation is simple for the struggles of Keone Kela and Richard Rodriguez.
“All pitchers make mistakes, but their mistakes have been getting hit of the park,” Huntington said. “I’m not saying it’s bad luck, but their mistakes are getting hit. A lot of times you make a mistake and you don’t get hurt by it.”
Kela has an 8.10 ERA and three home runs allowed in 6 2/3 innings. Rodriguez has served up four homers in nine innings to go with a 5.00 ERA.
