Pirates Injury Updates: Bailey Falter to Start Rehab; Positive News on Endy Rodríguez

Ailing pitcher Bailey Falter is getting closer to once again joining the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation.

Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk informed members of the media at PNC Park on Tuesday that the the left-hander is scheduled to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.

Falter has been sidelined since July 7 with left triceps tendinitis. Prior to getting injured, the 27-year-old made 17 starts to begin the year and went 4-7 with a 4.08 ERA. After securing the final spot in the rotation out of spring training, Falter provided the Pirates with valuable innings and has been one of the bigger surprises on the season.

General manager Ben Cherington said on his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan on Sunday that Falter’s rehab assignment should be on the shorter side considering he hasn’t had a prolonged absence, but the Pirates will wait and see how his rehab start goes before proceeding.

The Pirates’ starting rotation this year has been a key strength. Entering play on Tuesday night, the Pirates have the fourth-best ERA from their starters (3.53).

Encouraging News on Endy Rodríguez

The Pirates received a big injury blow in the offseason when it was revealed that Rodríguez would be undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery in November.

Rodríguez has been working his way back ever since and Tomczyk said publicly for the first time that the possibility of the 24-year-old playing in games as a designated hitter later this season “is being discussed.” The decision for that to happen in the big leagues is up to Cherington and manager Derek Shelton, but it looks like the chances of Rodríguez seeing game action are improving.

Tomczyk credits a “remarkable” rehab process that has been “truly linear.”

Rodríguez made his major-league debut with the Pirates last season and slashed .220/.284/.328 with three home runs and 13 RBIs in 57 games. He spent 52 games behind the plate where he posted three defensive runs saved.

Other News

• Jared Jones (right lat strain) is throwing again and up to 105 feet. He will throw off of a slope on Wednesday and ideally a bullpen over the weekend. “I think we are looking at, rough estimate, everything goes as we envision, seven to 10 days of a couple more bullpens and live BPs,” said Tomczyk.
• Relievers Ryan Borucki (left triceps inflammation) and Hunter Stratton (right triceps strain) are continuing their rehab assignments.
• Pitching prospect Braxton Ashcraft was placed on the injured list with lateral forearm tightness. After a brief return, he was once again placed on the IL with reoccurring symptoms. The expectation is that he will return to the mound in the next 7-10 days.