ATLANTA -- For the first time in nearly two months, Ke'Bryan Hayes will suit up for a professional baseball game.
The Pirates announced that Hayes will begin a rehab assignment with Class AAA Indianapolis on Saturday night while the team is in St. Paul. Derek Shelton said that Hayes will only play part of the game against the Twins affiliate, but his return from a left wrist strain in any capacity is a welcomed sight.
"We're excited that he's back on the field. To get him back on the field today is important," Shelton said before Saturday's game against the Braves. "He's missed enough time that we have to build him back up. Today is the first step to him rejoining us. He’s worked really hard to get there and look forward to seeing the results of it."
Hayes was transferred to the 60-day injured list as part of a roster crunch at the start of the month and will not be eligible to return until June 3. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that there is a target goal for number of games, innings, at-bats, etc. for Hayes to reach during what will be a longer than average rehab assignment.
"We have a progression lined out, but, as with all progressions, it’s in pencil," Shelton said. "We’ll talk to him on a daily basis and see where he's at."
The 24-year-old third baseman was reportedly doing a fair amount of conditioning work during his hiatus. The final hurdle before he was able to play in games again was swinging a bat at full speed without pain. He injured the wrist on an awkward swing in Chicago during the second game of the season and aggravated it on a similar swing in a Detroit batting cage less than three weeks later.
MORE INJURY NEWS
• Kyle Crick has been reinstated from the injured list after being out since May 11 with a triceps strain. Crick surrendered the only two runs he's allowed in 11 2/3 total innings this season in his final outing before hitting the IL.
"His live BP the other day was really, as were his bullpens," Shelton said. "The bullpen when he was in between was good, so I look forward to him bouncing back and the same guy."
Although nobody on a Shelton managed team has a concrete label, Crick was an effective setup man to Richard Rodriguez through the first month of the season. His return is a tremendous boost for a relief unit that boasts six players with an ERA+ greater than 100 (league average).
• The corresponding move for Crick's return will set Trevor Cahill on the IL with left calf discomfort. Cahill limped off the field in the second inning of his start in St. Louis on Wednesday. The 33-year-old was 1-5 with a 6.81 ERA in eight starts before going down. Shelton said there wasn't enough improvement in the past few days to avoid an IL stint.
The Pirates still haven't determined who fills Cahill's next turn in the rotation Tuesday against the Cubs at PNC Park. Rookie right-hander Miguel Yajure has been used as a spot starter twice this season. He last pitched for Indianapolis on Thursday and is the likeliest candidate to make that start.
Chad Kuhl only threw 42 pitches in his first rehab start the same night as the Cahill injury, Wednesday. The club has already said it will take a couple minor league outings for their opening day starter to get built back up to full strength.