There’s increasing light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for the Pittsburgh Pirates’ very injury-thinned outfield.
Longtime starting rightfielder Gregory Polanco is scheduled to begin playing in minor-league games Sunday when he reports to the Single-A Bradenton Marauders for a rehabilitation assignment.
Polanco has not played since suffering an acute shoulder dislocation while sliding into second base last Sept. 7. He had shoulder stabilization surgery soon thereafter and had an initial projected recovery time that would have him returning to game action between mid-April and June.
Polanco, Corey Dickerson and Lonnie Chisenhall are Pirates outfielders currently on the injured list.
Also joining Polanco in beginning a rehab assignment in Bradenton will be reliever Dovydaus Neverauskas, who is on the injured list because of a left oblique strain.
Moran starts again
Colin Moran made it 7-for-7 in terms of appearing in Pirates games this season when he was in the lineup as the third baseman batting third Saturday.
After losing his 2018 starting third baseman’s job to Jung Ho Kang, Moran has played three positions already this season (third base, first base, left field). Moran started Monday’s and Saturday’s games at third base, and he made his major-league debut in left field in starting Friday’s game.
Before going 0 for 2 Friday, Moran reached base seven of his first nine plate appearances this season.
“I believe in opportunities to bundle at bats,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Jung Ho needs his rest to stay fresh… (Moran) got out the box clean; we want to see the bat given an opportunity to play and just take advantage of some traction he’s built.”
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