Pirates closer David Bednar inches toward return, will throw BP session Saturday

All-Star closer David Bednar, who was 3-4 with a 2.70 ERA and 17 saves before being placed on the injured list Aug. 3 with lower back tightness, continues to inch his way back to action.

According to Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, Bednar is slated to throw a live batting practice session Saturday at PNC Park.

Whether Bednar will rejoin the Pirates before season’s end remains to be seen.

“The next step would most likely be consideration for a rehab assignment,” Tomczyk said. “That is still to be determined and has not been etched in stone. We’ll see how he comes out of that tomorrow and have an appropriate plan from there.”

Left-handed pitcher Dillon Peters, who last pitched Aug. 3 before being placed on the injured list the following day with left elbow inflammation, is scheduled to appear in relief Friday evening with Double-A Altoona.

“Overall, really good news that Dylan is getting back into competition,” Tomczyk said. “We’ll re-assess him tomorrow here at PNC Park and go from there with next steps.”

Colin Holderman’s 2022 season came to an end when the Pirates placed him on the 60-day injured list Aug. 26 with what was originally described as right shoulder soreness.

The 26-year-old right-hander was 4-0 with a 2.04 ERA in 15 appearances with the New York Mets earlier this season.

The Pirates acquired him in late July in exchange for Daniel Vogelbach, but since he arrived in Pittsburgh, Holderman has struggled, posting a 6.75 ERA over nine games.

“The plan is for him not to resume throwing for the rest of this year,” Tomczyk said. “The plan is to get him in a stable, non-painful total arc and then really catapult his offseason program.”

Looking at a few of the Pirates’ injured minor-leaguers, outfielder Canaan Smith-Njigba has resumed light baseball activities, per Tomczyk, but will not return to action for the remainder of the season.

In 52 games with Triple-A Indianapolis through June 15, Smith-Njigba was slashing .277/.387/.408 with 19 RBIs and one home run.

Right-handed pitcher Mike Burrows, who is 5-5 with a 3.46 ERA in 23 games between Altoona and Indianapolis, has been sidelined with minor shoulder inflammation, but a chance remains for him to take the field again before the conclusion of this year.

“We may be taking a little bit longer since this is the second time it’s happened, to ensure health going into the offseason and going into 2023 spring training,” Tomczyk said. “But we have not ruled out a return to pitching this season yet.”