Pirates RHP Johan Oviedo makes 'monumental accomplishment' by starting rehab assignment

The Pittsburgh Pirates received encouraging news from one of the pitchers expected to be in their starting rotation when right-hander Johan Oviedo began a rehabilitation assignment.

Given that Oviedo has missed 18 months since undergoing Tommy John surgery and his recovery endured a setback with a lat strain, Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk called it a “monumental accomplishment” to pitch in the Florida Complex League.

“All the hard work this man put in and appeared in an FCL game on Monday and came out of it good,” said Tomczyk, who anticipates Oviedo’s next start will be this weekend for the Low-A Bradenton Marauders. “So really, really good news and encouraged for Johan.”

Oviedo threw simulated games before beginning his rehab assignment, following a normal starting pitcher’s build-up by throwing 50-55 pitches over three innings. The goal is for him to ramp up to five or six innings.

Tomczyk said the Pirates are more concerned with how the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Oviedo executes than moderating his pitch and innings counts, which is why the focus is on how he handles the pitch clock.

“What we did learn is that pitch clock for him, it kind of got sped up the other night,” Tomczyk said. “That’s on us as a rehab team that we learned from that and we probably should’ve had him throw more sides and more lives with that pitch clock and that’s something that we didn’t foresee being an issue, but that is real, when a gentleman hasn’t pitched for over 18 months.”

Where the Pirates were initially concerned with Oviedo increasing his velocity too soon, they have to make sure that he’s not working too slowly and drawing automatic balls because of pitch-clock violations.

“It’s a blessing and a curse,” Tomczyk said. “I’m personally a little concerned when he figures out the pitch clock again, it’s just going to be that ultra-competitor and Ovi’s just going to come out and it’s going to be ‘guns blazing.’ So, yes, I do think it’s a good thing.”

In other injury news:

• Right-handed reliever Colin Holderman (right thumb) started his rehab assignment, making one appearance in the FCL before being transferred to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Holderman faced five batters and allowed two earned runs on three hits and had one strikeout with one wild pitch, throwing 15 of his 24 pitches for strikes in the fifth inning Tuesday against Louisville.

“He came out of it great,” Tomczyk said. “Texted me last night and said, ‘Hey I feel great. I’m getting dialed in.’”

Tomczyk said the right thumb is a recurring injury over the past 18 months, but the Pirates are “hopeful he gets through, optimistic and confident that gets through the rest of the season without anymore hiccups.”

Tomczyk said Holderman will be reassessed with Dr. Donald Sheridan after the season to determine if he needs surgery.

• Lefty reliever Ryan Borucki threw a side session before Wednesday’s game and is “making very nice progress in his rehab,” which Tomczyk also called “very encouraging.”

• Relievers Justin Lawrence (right elbow) and Tim Mayza (left shoulder) have progressed to throwing out to 120 feet with “good velocity, good intensity” and are “recovering very well,” Tomczyk said.

• Starter Jared Jones, who is six weeks removed from Tommy John surgery, has had his splint removed and is working on his range of motion. The next steps will be to focus on his strength, and Tomczyk said Jones is “progressing very nicely.”

• Infielder/outfielder Enmanuel Valdez is approaching the eight-week mark after surgery on his left shoulder and continues to work on his range of motion.

• Catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez has regained full range of motion two weeks removed from having plasma-rich platelet injections.