A few injury updates from today…
-Zach Duke could go on the 15-day disabled list, according to Dejan Kovacevic. Duke missed his start today, and could miss his next start on Saturday. Charlie Morton, Dana Eveland, Brian Burres, or Daniel McCutchen could all be candidates to make the start if Duke can’t go.
-Brock Holt, Tyler Yates, and Neal Cotts are all out for the season. It was originally believed that Holt had a torn MCL and would need surgery. Then it was announced that he didn’t have a torn MCL, and would avoid surgery. However, the recent news reveals he does have a torn MCL and will need surgery, which puts him out for the year.
Yates and Cotts were both on minor league free agent deals with the Pirates. Both players were signed with pre-existing injuries, with both believed to be back around this time of year. Cotts was signed to a split contract that paid $120,000 in the minors, and would have paid $900,000 in the majors. Yates made $300,000 in the minors, and would have made $975,000 in the majors.
More injury updates from Dejan Kovacevic in today’s PPG Notebook:
-Craig Hansen was shut down two weeks ago in Extended Spring Training with elbow pain. Hansen was recovering from nerve damage in his upper back.
-Jose Ascanio is progressing slower than expected, and could start his rehab stint in mid-July. Ascanio is currently on the 60-day disabled list.
-Hunter Strickland has been shut down with elbow pain. He has been placed on the disabled list in Bradenton.
