While the Pirates have one of the fastest rising farm systems in baseball, most of their top minor-leaguers are in the lower levels. Coming into the year, only a handful were projected to reach to potentially reach the majors in 2021.
Injuries have cut that number recently.
After strongly suggesting that Travis Swaggerty was going to have surgery for his dislocated shoulder, the Pirates confirmed Wednesday that the outfielder did go under the knife. He is projected and anticipated to return to full baseball activities in five to five and a half months.
“He will have pretty close to a normal offseason to allow him to come in and compete for spring training with no reservations,” director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said.
Swaggerty will need to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Speaking of the Rule 5 draft, José Soriano, the player the Pirates took first overall this past winter, experienced recurrent right elbow discomfort in his last start on May 25. He will be checked out by team doctors in Pittsburgh and doctors from outside of the organization.
“We're taking some time to learn more about [it],” Tomczyk said.
Soriano was on a rehab assignment from Tommy John surgery.
Miguel Yajure, the Pirates’ No. 10 prospect, is also experiencing right elbow discomfort and forearm tightness. Indianapolis manager Brian Esposito said Thursday that Yajure had not been experiencing any discomfort ahead of his last start.
He was placed on the seven-day injured list Tuesday.
“There is a little cause for concern because any time an athlete is unable to pick up a ball and throw, that signals to us as a medical department and organization that we need to dig a little bit deeper and figure out exactly what’s going on,” Tomczyk said. “We’re still in that process of learning, seeing how his body is responding to the treatment. Really can’t project beyond that right now.”
With Swaggerty done for the year and both pitchers in the evaluation stage of their injuries, it does put a damper on who the Pirates will turn to from the minors as this season progresses.
MORE INJURY NEWS
• Colin Moran (groin) and Phillip Evans (hamstring) will play their second rehab game tonight with the Indianapolis Indians. Neither has experienced any setbacks in their rehab. Left-hander Austin Davis (elbow) is available at Esposito's discretion.
• Trevor Cahill (calf) threw a live batting practice Tuesday. He, Derek Shelton, Oscar Marin and Ben Cherington are discussing the next step for his return to the Pirates.
Steven Brault (left lat strain) continues his rehab and is up to throwing from 120 feet.
• Ke'Bryan Hayes was activated off the injured list Thursday. While away, the Pirates' informatics, strength and conditioning and hitting department took a look at the type of swing that caused his left wrist and hand injury.
"They’re optimistic that this specific incur to his left wrist will not happen again," Tomcyzk said.