Hunter Stratton Undergoes Surgery; More Pirates’ Injury Updates

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Hunter Stratton underwent season-ending surgery to repair a ruptured patella tendon in his left knee, according to Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk.

The operation was performed by Dr. Darren Frank and Dr. Greg Altman at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh on Monday.

Stratton left Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds on a medical cart after falling to the ground in pain when attempting to retrieve a ball just in front of the backstop at PNC Park. The following day, the Pirates placed Stratton on 60-day injured list, ending his season.

Prior to his injury, Stratton made 36 appearances with the Pirates this season and went 2-1 with a 3.58 ERA. He recorded his first-career save on Mar. 31 in Miami and earned his first big-league win against the Giants on Apr. 27

Stratton. 27, made his major-league debut with the Pirates last season and posted a 2.25 ERA in eight relief appearances.

The initial timetable for Stratton’s return to competition is 7-10 months, putting his return date anywhere between around next year’s Opening Day and late June.

Surgery Scheduled for Marco Gonzales

Left-handed pitcher Marco Gonzales, who is out for the year with a left forearm/elbow injury, will be getting surgery on his left flexor tendon in early September.

Gonzales has already undergone multiple arm surgeries in his career, most recently nerve-decompression surgery last year while with the Seattle Mariners.

In his first year with the Pirates, injuries limited the left-hander to seven starts. Gonzales missed roughly three months in the middle of the season with a left forearm strain. After he was activated on July 12, the Pirates placed Gonzales on the 60-day IL one month later.

In his seven starts when healthy, Gonzales went 1-1 with a 4.54 ERA, 11 walks and 23 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.

Additional Updates

• Andrew McCutchen (left knee inflammation) has resumed all baseball activities and feels he’s ready to return. The Pirates will discuss his next steps.
• Joey Bart (left hamstring strain) is playing light catch and doing rehab exercises. No timetable regarding a potential return was provided.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes (lumbar spine) is not doing any baseball activities, only rehab exercises. Pirates are learning more about his injury.
• Endy Rodríguez (Tommy John surgery) is playing in FCL games as a designated hitter. He’s inching back to returning to games as a catcher.