PITTSBURGH — Pirates catcher Elias Diaz will be shut down for the rest of the season after undergoing a surgical procedure at Allegheny General Hospital to clean out the infection in his left leg, according to Head Athletic Trainer Todd Tomczyk. The Pirates are anticipating a full recovery.
Diaz originally complained that something wasn’t right with his leg after the first game of a doubleheader with Triple-A Indianapolis on Sept. 1.
“Fortunately, the medical staff at Indy took quick note of it,” Tomczyk said.
While an infection isn’t necessarily a baseball-related injury, the team’s medical staff treats the players for all sorts of ailments that can occur during the season.
“Unfortunately, these guys play in dirt and with dirt comes germs that could potentially lead to infection,” Tomczyk said. “It’s an assumed risk of the sport that they play.”
Tomczyk also opened up about the process that results in a player being shut down for the season, as well. The amount of time left in the season and the number of healthy days they would have with an optimal comeback are all “weighed and balanced.”
“It depends on the player, it depends on the injury and it depends on the person,” he said. “To a man, these guys want to be out there helping their team get to where they want to get. Sometimes, we have to guide these players with what’s best for them short and long-term, both for them and the organization.”
BANGED UP BUCS
• CF Startling Marte had some back spasms as he we was warming up for Tuesday night’s game. He did not play Tuesday and will not start Wednesday. He may be available to pinch hit.
• Manger Clint Hurdle sounded optimistic about the return of RHP Neftali Feliz (right arm discomfort) on Tuesday, but on Wednesday, he had less optimism. Feliz was expected to play catch Tuesday, but did not. Tomczyk said the injury “is not responding as we hoped, as fast as it would have.” He declined to specify what part of the arm is bothering Feliz, but reiterated that it appears to be a muscular injury.
• C Francisco Cervelli had a hematoma drained from under his left thumbnail and returned to the starting lineup.
• RHP Gerrit Cole appears to be on pace to make his scheduled return to the rotation Sept. 12.
