Pirates could get relief for bullpen, as lefty Ryan Borucki takes a step toward returning

The Pittsburgh Pirates are looking forward to getting some relief for their bullpen, as several pitchers took positive steps in their recoveries from injuries.

Left-hander Ryan Borucki, on the injured list since June 21 with low back inflammation, threw strikes on six of seven pitches in a scoreless inning for Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday night during his rehabilitation assignment. Borucki is scheduled to pitch again Wednesday night so the Pirates can see how he responds to back-to-back outings.

“He is meeting the demands of the rehab and showing up,” said Todd Tomczyk, Pirates senior director of sports medicine.

Right-hander Chase Shugart (left knee) threw off the mound for the first time before Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park and is expected to throw a bullpen session later this week.

A pair of relievers out since April also are taking steps in the right direction, even though they are in different places. Righty Justin Lawrence, out since late April with right elbow inflammation, transitioned to Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla., after the All-Star break, while lefty Tim Mayza (left shoulder) remains with the Pirates.

“There’s really no rhyme-or-reason for that. We decided due to proximity of homes,” Tomczyk said, noting that Mayza is from eastern Pennsylvania and Lawrence lives in Arizona. “From a baseball perspective, both are doing well. Both we anticipate throwing sides later this week to begin their side progression. So that is very encouraging news from those young men.”

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After throwing four innings for Double-A Altoona, Tomczyk said the Pirates realized that right-hander Johan Oviedo might have spent too much time in Florida.

“What we’ve learned from this process, at least from a rehab perspective, is maybe we kept him in Florida a little bit too long,” Tomczyk said. “Change that stimulus, change that environment, cause as you saw all the results and it’s all Ovi’s doing, he’s much more efficient in his own environment, back in that team setting.”

Oviedo is scheduled to make another start for the Curve this week, then likely will have his rehab assignment transferred to Indianapolis.

“He’s worked his tail off,” Tomczyk said. “He looks really, really good physically.”

Righty Jared Jones, nine weeks removed from surgery on his right elbow, continues to work on range of motion and isn’t throwing yet but remains on target to return next year.

Where the Pirates got positive news on the pitching front, they endured some setbacks with position players. Switch-hitting catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez (right elbow) has not resumed swinging from the left side as originally projected.

“He’s dealing with some residual soreness that our rehab group and Dr. (Neal) ElAttrache would like to take a little bit slower, concerted effort before he gets cleared,” Tomczyk said. “We don’t think we’re far off, but we’re not there yet.”

Altoona shortstop Jack Brannigan, the Pirates’ No. 10 prospect per MLB Pipeline, required surgery to repair a labral tear in his right shoulder and is out for the remainder of the season.

Altoona outfielder/first baseman Esmerlyn Valdez, who is ranked the No. 15 prospect and was selected for the Futures Game, slid into a tarp and got his foot jammed but survived that scare without serious injury. Tomczyk said initial X-rays were negative, but Valdez remains day-to-day.

“They’re going to put him through a gamut of tests and make sure that he can slide, that he can run, that he can absorb the shock that he likes to,” Tomczyk said. “He’s a very important piece for our organization, like everybody is. The team will go through the steps to make sure that we leave no stone unturned and make sure that he can go out there and be what we need him to be. In short, as of right now we don’t think it’s an IL stint, but it’s too early to assess and determine.”