Pirates catcher Joey Bart begins rehab assignment, Endy Rodriguez to visit surgeon

With both Opening Day catchers on the injured list, the Pittsburgh Pirates are taking steps closer to getting some clarity at the position.

Endy Rodriguez, out since June 7 with right elbow inflammation, is scheduled to visit orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles this week. Dr. ElAttrache performed surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in Rodriguez’s right elbow in December 2023.

Joey Bart, who has been on the seven-day concussion IL since May 28 after taking a backswing to the facemask, was cleared from the concussion protocol and will begin a rehabilitation assignment Wednesday at Triple-A Indianapolis.

“We did continue to learn from other experts how he was testing and how he was feeling,” Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said. “There was one or two other things and people we needed to have conversations with. He has cleared that hurdle. Once he is cleared by the league and the (Players Association), there are no other concerns of any more boxes, other than getting back into game condition.”

In other Pirates injury news:

• Right-handed reliever Colin Holderman had a cortisone injection into his right thumb and has resumed throwing, with the intention to progress to 90 and 120 feet in the coming days.

“He is responding well finally to the injection,” Tomczyk said. “We’ll build him up appropriately.”

• Right-handed starter Johan Oviedo, who suffered a lat strain while returning from Tommy John surgery, threw a live bullpen with velocity up to 94 mph. Oviedo is scheduled to throw another in the coming days in Florida, with a tick up in velocity, which Tomczyk called a “good step in the right direction.”

Tomczyk said the Pirates have “penciled in” a plan for a rehabilitation assignment for Oviedo, though he still must throw more live bullpens and simulated games first.

• Lefty reliever Tim Mayza (shoulder) and righty reliever Justin Lawrence (elbow) — who both have been out since April — are to begin throwing this weekend but “have a ways to go in their journey of throwing.”