Pirates RHP Vince Velasquez nears end of IL stint, expected to make next start

Vince Velasquez was back in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse Wednesday morning, repacking his suitcase in preparation for a road trip that should include his first start in three weeks.

The 30-year-old right-hander is expected to return to the rotation perhaps as soon as this weekend when the Pirates visit the Seattle Mariners.

“I think all signs point to being activated for his next outing,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said, deferring to manager Derek Shelton on Velasquez’s exact return. “That’s the tentative plan as of now. Expect him to travel with the team out west after the game.”

Cherington said the Pirates haven’t decided how Velasquez’s return will affect the rotation, although it’s possible rookie right-hander Luis Ortiz will be optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Ortiz earned his first career victory in Monday’s 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers, allowing one run in 7 2/3 innings.

“We haven’t determined what the counter (move) would be, working through a number of different possibilities there,” Cherington said. “It was obviously really encouraging to watch Luis in his last outing. Just how much more in the strike zone he was attacking. We know what he’s capable of doing.”

Velasquez removed himself from a May 4 start at Tampa Bay after experiencing right-elbow discomfort in the third inning. He was placed on the 15-day injured list and said he was thankful the injury wasn’t more serious than inflammation.

“I’m relieved in all areas,” Velasquez said. “It was scary. I made the smart move by stopping. It could’ve been a lot worse, but by the same token it was smart.”

Velasquez threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings Saturday in a rehab start at Indianapolis, then threw a bullpen session Tuesday at PNC Park.

“It was moreso just building confidence with everything, making sure all my pitches were on point,” Velasquez said. “That builds a lot of comfort every time I play catch, especially going in to face a hitter. That’s something that’s more of an adrenaline rush. I stayed on top of everything I’m supposed to do. If I connect all the dots, then physically and mentally everything will be where it needs to be.”

Velasquez is 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 35 1/3 innings over seven starts, including a 19-inning scoreless streak that was snapped in the second inning of the 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay.

“To me personally, I would love to be back out there. To pick up where I left off, that would be nice, especially going against Seattle, a good lineup,” Velasquez said. “I would love to have that intent, to go into a game like that knowing that I did everything to prepare for a big outing like that.”

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk also provided updates for two players on the 60-day injured list:

• Shortstop Oneil Cruz continues rehabilitation after fracturing his left ankle sliding into home plate against the White Sox on April 9.

Having returned to the Pirates clubhouse in late April, Cruz is using crutches to get around in addition to a boot.

Cruz’s original timetable to return remains approximately four months from April 9, but the 24-year-old does appear to be approaching a new chapter in his rehab.

“The wound’s healing good, the post-op(eration) follow-up, X-rays — everything is lining up for Oneil for over the next 10-14 days, we’re going to transition him out of the boot,” Tomczyk said. “And then we can really begin to get his strength back, get his range of motion back and get him back to doing the thing he loves most, and that’s playing baseball. But overall, with Oneil, six-plus weeks (post-surgery), he’s in a good spot.”

Cruz will be eligible to come off the injured list June 9.

In nine games played with the Pirates this season before his injury, he batted .250 with a home run and four RBIs.

• First baseman/designated hitter Ji Man Choi is navigating through an Achilles strain suffered in mid-April that will keep him sidelined until at least June 13.

Tomczyk said the team plans for Choi, 32, to travel with the Pirates on their upcoming six-game road swing.

“He’s out doing most all baseball activities,” Tomczyk said. “He’s fielding ground balls right at him, he’s playing catch and he’s taking batting practice — no issues with any of those activities. We anticipate and project him beginning some type of some running progression next week.”

At the time of his injury, Choi was hitting .125 with two home runs and two RBIs through nine games.

In other injury news:

• Reliever Wil Crowe (right shoulder discomfort) has begun a plyometrics program that will lead into him throwing next week pending any unforeseen setbacks.

Crowe is 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA in five appearances this season.

• On the minor-league front, pitching prospect Max Kranick, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, is throwing side sessions and is expected to begin throwing live batting practices at the end of June.

“Things are looking in a good light and trending in a good direction for Max,” Tomczyk said.

• Outfielder Travis Swaggerty, out for Indianapolis since April 19 because of illness, began a rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton on Tuesday. Tomczyk envisions Swaggerty rehabbing for about a week before he is activated by the Indians.

In 14 games with Indianapolis, Swaggerty is hitting .231 with a home run and three RBIs through 52 at-bats.

• Pitcher Colin Selby, who owns a 4.11 ERA in 14 appearances at Triple-A, has been temporarily shut down from throwing because of right-shoulder discomfort stemming from a low-grade rotator cuff strain.