BRADENTON, Fl. – Here are today’s injury updates from Pirates’ Head Athletic Trainer Todd Tomczyk.
**Jung-ho Kang will be increasing the frequency and volume of baseball activities this week. He will increase his hitting and fielding work on the field. However, he’s still not running the bases yet.
“The most important thing about Jung-Ho is that he is such a driven man,” Tomczyk said. “He wants nothing more than anyone else to get back on the field and playing baseball.”
**Gerrit Cole is a bit behind the other pitchers due to right rib inflammation early in camp, which he has recovered from. He hasn’t thrown a live BP yet, but Tomczyk said that those are the next steps in his progression.
**Left-handed pitcher Cory Luebke has been out right a right hamstring strain. He threw off the mound today with no restrictions, and will be starting his progression to build up for the season.
**Left-handed pitcher Robert Zarate has posterior lateral left arm discomfort. He’s currently not throwing, and is in the recovery and rest phase for now.
**As for the Tommy John recoveries, Jesse Biddle is getting close to throwing again off flat ground. Nick Kingham is getting close to throwing bullpens.
**Antoan Richardson’s goal this week is to advance his agility work in order to get back to full baseball activities.
