Injuries & Moves: Lefty reliever Walker acquired from Mets
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July 30: LHP Josh Walker acquired from Mets
The Pirates made a Deadline deal on Tuesday that sent Walker to Pittsburgh after he was designated for assignment on July 26. In exchange for Walker, who will report to Triple-A Indianapolis, the Pirates sent the Mets Minor League lefty Nicolas Carreno, who has a 3.74 ERA in 20 appearances (nine starts) this year. Walker, 29, posted a 5.11 ERA in 10 relief outings with the Mets this year but was more reliable at Triple-A Syracuse, where he struck out 12.2 batters per nine and pitched to a 2.83 ERA across 28 2/3 innings spanning 25 appearances.
July 29: Pirates trade right-hander Quinn Priester to Red Sox for infield prospect Nick Yorke
Priester was once touted as one of the Pirates’ top pitching prospects, but had struggled in the Majors his first two seasons in The Show. In exchange, the Pirates scored Boston’s top infield prospect, who could be ready for the Major Leagues as soon as this year. More>>
July 29: OF Bryan Reynolds, LHP Bailey Falter return; OF Jack Suwinski optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis
Reynolds is returning from the bereavement list after missing the Diamondbacks series for personal reasons. Falter has been activated off the injured list and will start for the Pirates Tuesday. He is filling the roster spot vacated by the Quinn Priester trade to the Red Sox earlier Monday.
The other roster spot was opened up by optioning Suwinski, who could not find a groove despite running into a couple of homers of late. That didn’t do much to boost his .182 batting average or .588 season OPS.
“I think over the last month or so, we’ve seen him put a lot of pressure on himself,” said Derek Shelton. “Let’s kind of take the pressure cooker out of it and go down and put him in a position where he can help us, because he has the ability to impact the baseball.”
July 28: 2B Nick Gonzales (groin discomfort) lands on 10-day injured list; SS Alika Williams recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis
Gonzales departed Saturday’s game in the sixth inning after grounding out and coming up lame as he ran down the first-base line. General manager Ben Cherington described the injury as a matter of “weeks, not days” when asked about a potential return to action for Gonzales during his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan on Sunday afternoon. Cherington pointed out Ji Hwan Bae as a potential internal option to get reps at second, while Jared Triolo drew the start Sunday. The club also has Liover Peguero at Triple-A and approximately 48 hours until the Trade Deadline.
Gonzales has emerged as a key member of the lineup during his second big league campaign, while also providing terrific defensive value at the keystone (3.6 UZR per FanGraphs, tops among all big league second basemen).
Williams was recalled to take Gonzales’ place on the active roster prior to first pitch Sunday. The 25-year-old, who has made starts at three different infield spots in his career, hasn’t appeared in a game for the Bucs since May 29 and has since hit .327 with a .422 on-base percentage for Triple-A Indianapolis.
7-DAY/10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
2B Nick Gonzales (groin discomfort)
Expected return: TBD
Gonzales departed against Arizona on July 27 after coming up lame running down the line on a ground ball in the sixth inning. General manager Ben Cherington described the injury as a matter of “weeks, not days” when asked about a potential return to action for Gonzales during his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan on July 28, when Gonzales was placed on the IL. (Last updated: July 28)
RHP Jared Jones (Grade 2 right lat strain)
Expected return: August
Jones threw a 30-pitch bullpen session utilizing all four of his pitches on July 27 at Chase Field, topping out at around 93-95 mph. Jones said he felt great and Pirates manager Derek Shelton said the session was encouraging. Jones has been on the IL since July 4. The next step for him will be a two-up bullpen session, which will take place in Houston the last week of July, when the Pirates visit the Astros. (Last updated: July 27)
RHP Hunter Stratton (right triceps strain)
Expected return: Soon
Stratton has made three appearances as part of his rehab assignment between the Pirates’ Florida Complex League team and Single-A Bradenton with no issues. Stratton’s rehab assignment started July 15, as he continues to build back up after suffering a right triceps strain in June. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Braxton Ashcraft (forearm tightness; No. 4 on Pirates Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: TBD
Ashcraft was placed on the injured list on July 12 with recurrent symptoms of lateral forearm tightness. The team got a second opinion from the surgeon of record, Dr. Keith Meister, who did Ashcraft’s Tommy John procedure in 2021 and confirmed it was muscle-related on the outside forearm. He is not pitching in games currently, but he is playing catch on flat ground with the hope that he could return to the mound in seven to 10 days. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Daulton Jefferies (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Jefferies was placed on the injured list July 6 after throwing two innings of scoreless relief to close out the Pirates’ win against the Mets on July 5. There’s no timetable for a return yet for Jefferies, who has pitched four games with Pittsburgh after being acquired from the Giants in May. (Last updated: July 6)
60-DAY IL
LHP Ryan Borucki (left triceps inflammation)
Expected return: 2024
Borucki’s Minor League rehab assignment that started on June 25 has been paused. Pirates manager Derek Shelton said he wants the team to be cautious since they are dealing with a nerve issues. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk acknowledged that nerve injuries can flare up and there can be good days and bad, which is why Borucki’s recovery has not been linear. He will pitch on July 23. (Last updated: July 26)
C Endy Rodríguez (right elbow surgery)
Expected return: 2025
The switch-hitting Rodríguez is hitting off of a tee right-handed, and it’s been discussed whether he could potentially bat as a designated hitter in Minor League games this year. Nothing has been decided, but since there haven’t been any hiccups with his rehab, it is on the table. (Last updated: July 23)
RHP Johan Oviedo (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Oviedo started a throwing program at the Pirates’ Florida complex the week of May 20 after crossing the six-month mark from his surgery. As of early July, he is throwing out to 90 feet. (Last updated: July 2)
RHP Dauri Moreta (UCL surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Moreta underwent UCL reconstruction surgery in March, confirming fears that he will not pitch in 2024. The team anticipates a full recovery in approximately 14-16 months, with the hope that it might be on the shorter side since he is a reliever. Moreta is in Bradenton, Fla., going through the strengthening and condition phase of the rehab process, and won’t begin playing catch until at least September. (Last updated: July 2)
