Cherington: Update on Jones, Pirates Looking at ‘Weeks’ Until Bart, O’Hearn Return
On his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan, Pittsburgh Pirates general manager Ben Cherington provided updates on a trio of players currently on the injured list.
RHP Jared Jones
Jones has been sidelined since the start of last season and underwent right elbow surgery last May. The right-hander is scheduled to make his fourth rehab start — and second with the Altoona Curve — on Sunday night against Harrisburg.
Jones is progressing well, and Cherington expects his rehab assignment is nearing completion, but the Pirates aren’t quite ready to reinstate him just yet.
“Barring something really unforeseen, I expect he’ll make at least one more outing after [Sunday] on rehab assignment,” Cherington said. “We’re getting closer. He’s doing really well, and that’s the best news.”
Jones is expected to return to the Pirates by the end of this month or early June at the latest. Although his return is getting closer, the Pirates still have yet to make a decision on what his initial role will be.
“What I do know is that our job is to put together the best 13-man pitching staff that we can,” Cherington explained. “We need to put the team first, in that, and we need everyone to buy into that, whatever that means. We need the 13 best pitchers on the team to win games consistently. Obviously, we believe Jared is one of them, and we certainly believe he’s a starting pitcher as we look out into the future.”
In three rehab starts across three levels, Jones has a 0.90 ERA (1er/10ip) with eight hits, one walk and 11 strikeouts.
C Joey Bart
Bart has been on the 10-day injured list since on May 12 (retro to May 10) with a left foot infection. The Pirates catcher developed an open wound on his foot, which led to an infection and subsequent antibiotic treatment.
Given the injury, Bart will be on the injured list well beyond the 10-day minimum.
“Joey’s gonna be fine long-term. He’s gonna get past this,” Cherington said. “But because of the nature of that cut and where it was and the treatment, we gotta make sure it’s 100%, really before he starts baseball activities. Unfortunately, we’re probably looking at weeks not days.”
Bart played 21 games on the year prior to the infection. He hit .259 with a .670 OPS, one double, two home runs and six RBI.
In his absence, the Pirates will rely on Endy Rodríguez, who was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis when Bart was put on the IL.
OF/1B Ryan O’Hearn
After leaving Saturday’s game after the third inning, O’Hearn was placed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a right quad strain.
While O’Hearn seems to have avoided a major injury, it will still be a little while before he returns to the field for the Pirates.
“It’s on the moderate side but it’s not gonna be a 10-day thing. It’s gonna be weeks, probably, until he’s back,” Cherington said. “I think I hear things like roughly a four-week type of thing, but that’s early to predict that. He’s gonna be back soon but not right away. It’s obviously a blow.”
The 32-year-old was off to a strong start to the season with a .289/.368/.459 with six doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBI in 44 games.
To fill O’Hearn’s spot on the roster, the Pirates reinstated outfielder Jake Mangum from the 10-day injured list.
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