With the State College Spikes season ending last night, I took the opportunity to check in with the coaching staff on the status of #11 prospect Barrett Barnes and right-handed pitcher Jake Burnette.
Barnes suffered a stress fracture in his leg earlier this season and hasn’t played since August 1st. Manager Dave Turgeon reports that Barnes has yet to resume baseball activity.
“It’s healing properly, and he has one more bone scan,” said Turgeon. “We’ll probably have him in action by the latter third of instructional league where he’ll be back to full baseball activities. He’s on schedule.”
2011 7th round draft pick Jake Burnette is one of several high-upside projectable prep arms taken by the Pirates in recent drafts. Burnette only threw 21 innings this season before hitting the shelf with soreness in his elbow.
“He’s good. He’s been throwing side sessions [about five or six], and he’ll be ready to go in the instructional league,” said pitching coach Justin Meccage.
Burnette underwent a series of tests, and doctors’ concluded that it was just a case of soreness, so he should be ready for game activity soon.
I did not receive comment on 2012 24th round draft pick Tyler Gaffney. The outfielder had been out with a shoulder injury since last week, but all indications are that the injury is not serious. Gaffney has reportedly wanted to return to action as the season has closed.
