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Pirates Notes: How Jung Ho Kang Will Be Used After His Return

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PITTSBURGH — Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang has been reinstated from the 15-day disabled and is at PNC Park, but is not in the starting lineup for the Pirates Monday afternoon.

Kang was not available to speak to reporters before the game, but general manager Neal Huntington did mention Kang’s rehab from his left shoulder injury in his briefing Sunday. Kang went 1 for 8 with a home run, three walks and two strikeouts in his rehab stint with Triple-A Indianapolis. The home run came during his first game in Indy.

“The first game, obviously, he played very strongly. He drove a ball. He got a ball out over the plate and didn’t try to do too much with it and absolutely destroyed it. He did not get any defensive chances. Then [Saturday] night, again, it’s a baseball game. You expect major leaguers to go down and go 12 for 12 with four home runs and it doesn’t happen. Baseball is a challenging game and the guys in Triple-A are working just as hard. I saw some good things from Kang [Saturday] night.”

When Kang was injured, David Freese had already taken over the majority of the reps at third base. But Freese has struggled mightily since then, posting a .128/.261/.128 line. You’ll notice that his batting average and slugging percentage are identical, meaning he’s hit no extra-base hits.

So with the return of Kang it’s possible that there may be more of a rotation like there was earlier in the season. But manager Clint Hurdle doesn’t seem to be jumping in with both feet.

“We will use Jung Ho as we were before he left,” Hurdle said. “Today, it’ll be off the bench. … He’ll have the opportunity to start. We’re looking for offense. The last time he joined us (coming back from an injury) in St. Louis, he provided some offense. Maybe we can revisit that with the Cardinals in town.”

Of course, part of that has to do with Kang’s own struggles at the plate. Since June 18 — the date of an alleged sexual assault under investigation by the Chicago Police — Kang is hitting .210/.310/.379.

CHASING THE CARDS

After losing six consecutive games, the Pirates have every right to be out of the Wild Card race. Instead, they’re only 3.5 games out and they have the fortune of playing the team they’re chasing.

“This is a series that we know what we’re going up against,” said second baseman Josh Harrison. “For us, we don’t need to make it any bigger than it is.”

I asked Harrison if the Cardinals — who the Pirates have battled for three seasons now for playoff spots — feel like rivals.

“I can’t really say [there’s] a rivalry between anybody,” he said. “Whoever is on that opposing side, we’re trying to get them. I don’t feed too much on who is on the other side. Obviously, I know they’re in the division and the history of what’s gone on the past couple of year between us. For us, I think that’s where we have to take a step back and understand that every opponent of ours is trying to end our season. For me, I don’t treat one team as more of a threat than anybody. At the end of the day, they’re trying to take what’s ours and we’re trying to take what’s theirs.”

DIAZ IN TOWN

Catcher Elias Diaz is in Pittsburgh and is being treated for cellulitis on his left leg by the team’s medical staff. He will be re-evaluated in three days. His playing status is uncertain at this time.

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