Pirates activate Gregory Polanco from IL, ready for season debut

Seven months removed from surgery, Gregory Polanco insisted his recovery isn’t just a little ahead of schedule.

“A lot,” said Polanco, who was activated Monday from the injured list, clearing the way for the Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder to make his much-anticipated season debut.

“I can’t describe how happy I am, how excited to be back here with the guys,” he said, “and to help the team to win.”

Polanco was scheduled to start and bat third Monday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. Injured on an awkward slide into second base, he underwent surgery Sept. 12 to stabilize his throwing shoulder and repair his labrum.

Last fall, recovery time was projected as seven to nine months.

The 27-year-old said he did whatever he could to speed up that time frame and credited his quick return to “the hard work, the dedication, the trainers and all the physical therapy.”

The Pirates open a four-game series with the Diamondbacks.

“I don’t think we’re going to roll him out for 10 straight games or anything like that, but he’s going to play,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We’ve got three night games in a row here. We’ll take it one game at a time, but we brought him back to play him.”

In the clubhouse, Polanco rotated his left shoulder, showing how he will need to constantly stretch in between pitches, adding “you’ve just got to keep it loose.” The arm strength isn’t what he had last season, and the Pirates plan to compensate defensively, but Polanco said it’s “a lot stronger” than it was even a few weeks ago.

“If you remember seeing me in spring training, when you see me tonight you’ll see the difference,” he said. “For sure it’s getting stronger. I’m not throwing like I was throwing last year, but I’m better than I was in spring training.”

Hurdle said the Pirates have monitored Polanco’s throwing velocity throughout his rehab process, and it’s not what he had before injury. As a result, the middle infielders will push out farther for cutoff throws, he said, but Hurdle said Polanco’s velocity even now could be better than some everyday outfielders.

“I think he will be able to work back to his velocity he had,” Hurdle said. “He’s been accurate with his throws. He’s made throws. He’s done everything that he can do to test his legs out, sliding, his throws, swinging, so he’s ready to go. It’s time for him to play up here.”

Polanco played nine minor league games while rehabbing. In the past five with Indianapolis, he went 6 for 20 (.300) with a double, five RBIs and two stolen bases. His return comes at a time when the Pirates are searching for added offense.

A year ago, Polanco led the Pirates in home runs (23) and RBIs (81) and was second in runs (75).

“I’m feeling good (at the plate) — I’m not feeling great — but I’m in a good spot and ready to rock,” he said.

Polanco was injured Sept. 7 against Miami. He said he watched the video of his slide until he couldn’t watch anymore.

“It was terrible,” Polanco said. “I’ve watched it a lot of times. That was not a good feeling to watch it, so I stopped watching it. We are human. We make mistakes, and you’ve got to learn your lesson.”

His lesson was a painful one, he said.

“When you make a mistake like that, it costs you,” Polanco said. “It cost me a lot of games. Maybe my arm won’t be the same this year, but I’m here. I’m happy that I’m back here.”

Hurdle said Polanco worked to improve his sliding technique, both before and after the injury. The pre-injury sliding work didn’t alter Polanco’s risky style, but Hurdle believed it would now.

“Unfortunately, the collateral damage that he incurred from a poor sliding technique, I think that got his attention,” Hurdle said. “Sometimes pain can bring specific attention to an immediate area.”