Returns of Johan Oviedo, Dauri Moreta 'a win' for Pirates rehab and sports performance team

As senior director of sports medicine for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Todd Tomczyk often is the bearer of bad news when he delivers a weekly injury report often filled with updates on season-ending surgeries.

This week, Tomczyk got to do a celebratory lap.

The returns to the major-league mound of starter Johan Oviedo and reliever Dauri Moreta over the past week marked successful recovery and rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in the right elbow for both Pirates pitchers.

On Monday night, Oviedo made his first MLB start since Sept. 27, 2023. It lasted only one inning — he allowed two runs on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts on 43 pitches — but the 6-foot-6, 275-pounder came away feeling healthy and motivated. Oviedo was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to open a roster spot for the bullpen.

“What a story, right?” Tomczyk said Wednesday morning. “To see him on the mound after almost two years of competition. How he’s transformed his body. I mean, he looked like a horse before, but he is as strong as an ox. But to answer your question, he came out of that, ‘I feel great. I’m healthy,’ which was so cool to hear and living it with him and watching how hard he’s worked to see that come to that moment.

“Obviously he didn’t like the performance that he showed, but it wasn’t anything health related. He just said, ‘It got away from me at times. I’ll be back. Can’t wait to get the ball again in five days.’”

Moreta pitched one-third of the ninth inning for the Pirates in an 8-5 loss Saturday at Colorado, marking his first outing in the majors since Oct. 1, 2023. He also tossed a clean ninth inning in Monday’s 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park.

“From the time it was diagnosed to the decision of surgery was recommended, who he decided to have (perform) surgery, from waking up from surgery, it’s a rehab and a sports performance win — including Moreta, too,” Tomczyk said. “That’s pretty cool to see.”

• Right-handed reliever Chase Shugart is inching closer to completing his return. After facing five batters in one inning at Low-A Bradenton, his rehab assignment was transferred to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Shugart hasn’t allowed a hit or a run in two appearances at Indianapolis, with three strikeouts against two walks in three innings. He’s expected to make another outing for the Indians.

Tomczyk said the initial responses for Shugart are “very encouraging” and that he’s experiencing no pain or soreness.

“From a rehab perspective, he is checking off the benchmarks,” Tomczyk said. “Most importantly, he’s responded to initial workload and initial games. So we’re still working through all of that.”

• Relievers Justin Lawrence (right elbow inflammation) and Tim Mayza (left shoulder muscle lat strain) are throwing side sessions at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla.

“They got a taste of that heat, if you must — because it is some type of hot down there right now with the humidity — but, overall, they’re doing very well,” Tomczyk said.

Tomczyk said the Pirates project for Lawrence and Mayza to begin throwing live batting practice in two weeks. After that, they will reassess to determine the next steps in their recovery. Tomczyk didn’t rule out a return to the majors this season for both pitchers.

“The goal is to get them back to their previous level,” Tomczyk said, “and that was major-league competition.”

• Catcher/first baseman Endy Rodriguez (right elbow inflammation) is in Los Angeles to visit orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed his Tommy John surgery in December 2023.

• Infielder Enmanuel Valdez, three months removed from surgery on his left shoulder, is throwing out to 90 feet and is still projected to return to full baseball activities within six months.

“The goal is to line up so he can get some playing time, some at-bats in winter ball,” Tomczyk said. “He’s doing really well.”