Trio of Pirates Starting Rehab Assignments With Triple-A Indianapolis

The Pittsburgh Pirates are one step closer to getting three players back from the injured list.

Catcher Joey Bart and infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae will began rehab assignments with Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday night. Additionally, left-handed pitcher Martín Pérez is set to start for Indianapolis on Saturday.

Bart will serve as the Indians’ designated hitter in Friday’s game and will be behind the plate to catch Pérez for his start on Saturday.

The Pirates’ catcher has been on the 10-day injured list since May 27 with a left UCL sprain in his thumb.

Bart was acquired by the Pirates on Apr. 2 and provided an instant impact after coming over from the Giants. In 22 games with the Pirates, the 27-year-old slashed .267/.362/.517 with four home runs and 12 RBIs.

Bae appeared in only eight games with the Pirates this season before he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right wrist sprain. Prior to getting injured, he collected five hits in 24 at-bats and stole a bases.

In Pérez’s absence, the Pirates have been utilizing bullpen games to fill the fifth spot of the rotation. The veteran was placed on the 15-day injured list on May 27 with a strained left groin.

The Pirates signed the 33-year-old as a free agent in the offseason after he won the World Series with the Rangers in 2023. On the year with Pittsburgh, Pérez owns a 1-3 record with a 4.71 ERA across 11 starts.

Additional Pirates Updates

• Left-handed pitchers Ryan Borucki and Marco Gonzales both threw live batting practice at PNC Park on Friday. Bourcki is working back from left triceps inflammation and Gonzales is on the injured list with a left forearm muscle strain.
• Quinn Priester threw a live bullpen on Friday in Indianapolis. He’s on track to throw another one next week and
• Henry Davis remains in concussion protocol. He’s resumed most baseball activities and is making progress.
• Catcher Endy Rodríguez (Tommy John surgery) is hitting from both the left and right side and is throwing. The Pirates haven’t ruled out a return to the field in some capacity this season.