While working their way back to the Pirates from their respective injuries, Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer start a rehab assignment with Indianapolis on Tuesday night.
While both put solid swings on the ball in batting practice, Mercer was still sporting a bulky brace on his left knee from where he was injured last month.
As for their use, Indianapolis manager Dean Treanor said that both will play seven innings on Tuesday night, followed by a day off on Wednesday, then seven more on Thursday, before another off night on Friday. From then on, how they feel will determine everything moving forward.
“It will change for both of them after that,” Treanor said. “One will be a little more progressive than the other one. After seven innings tonight and on Thursday, then they will go to nine innings.”
With the time frame and the extent of the injuries, Harrison seems more likely to get escalated quicker than Mercer, but both will be welcome additions back to Pittsburgh when the assignment is complete.
