PITTSBURGH — Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco and catcher Francisco Cervelli both took batting practice and did field work at PNC Park on Wednesday, but neither player seems close to a return to the lineup.
Polanco, who is suffering from a left hamstring strain, has been running on an underwater treadmill to try to build himself back up to strength, but team trainer Todd Tomczyk said it’s questionable whether he will be able to return this season.
Cervelli has a left wrist injury and seems closer to a return, with the club contemplating whether or not he will require a rehab assignment before getting back to action.
***George Kontos will disengage from baseball activities until Friday before attempting go throw again. Tomczyk characterized Kontos’ right groin strain as minor and said that if all goes well, Kontos could come off the disabled list when he’s eligible to return Aug. 30.
***Joaquin Benoit’s left knee inflammation is a flare-up of the same issue that landed him on the disabled list earlier this year when he was with Philadelphia. He will also be evaluated on Friday after a few days off.
***Wade LeBlanc is progressing from his left quad strain and is expected to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday. LeBlanc is eligible to return from the disabled list Aug. 28.
***In the minors, Austin Meadows has returned to action from his oblique issue, which Tomczyk said was mostly precautionary.
***Gage Hinsz has been placed on the minor-league disabled list with a scapular stress fracture. It will end Hinsz’s regular season, but Tomcyzk wasn’t sure how it would affect things beyond that.
“We’re still working through the process of working through the next steps for him,” he said. “It’s nothing significant that’s going to cause long-term disability.”
