The broken jaw Phillip Evans suffered in an outfield collision with Gregory Polanco will require surgery and be wired shut, Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday.
Evans was leading the Pirates with a .359 batting average and nine RBIs before suffering the season-ending injury while playing first base when he ran into the elbow of Polanco in right field of an Aug. 8 game against the Detroit Tigers at PNC Park. Evans was knocked unconscious and fractured his jaw, but doctors had to wait until the swelling subsided to assess the damage. He was placed on the 45-day injured list, effectively ending his season.
“Unfortunately, the fracture has moved, become a little bit more displaced, so what that entails is a wire to be put in the jaw to allow that bone to heal properly,” Tomczyk said. “The most important thing here with Phil here is the long-term prognosis is very good. The doctors continue to expect a full recovery.”
Tomczyk also provided the following updates on injured Pirates:
• Right-handed reliever Kyle Crick (shoulder) “responded to the workload” after throwing a live batting practice. He is expected to throw another live BP in the coming days and then will be reassessed.
• Right-handed starter Mitch Keller (oblique) is playing catch on flat ground, and Tomczyk said the Pirates “envision him getting off the slope early to mid next week.” Fellow right-handed starter Joe Musgrove (right triceps, right ankle) is “making very nice progress.” Musgrove is scheduled to throw off the slope and will be built up based on how he responds.
“I wouldn’t say that one’s ahead of the other — two different injuries — but Joe is further along in his mound progression or return-to-mound progression than Mitch,” Tomczyk said. “The first side will be in the coming days for Joe, then we’ll see after how he responds to that. Mitch is still building up endurance on flat ground. That’s the main difference. One’s on flat ground. The other’s ready for sides.”
• Right-handed reliever Yacksel Rios was placed on the 10-day IL with right-shoulder inflammation after reporting soreness and tightness following a side session Sunday. Tomczyk said the Pirates decided to have Rios take a “pause from throwing” to allow the inflammation to subside.
• Right-handed starter Jameson Taillon “continues to dominate his rehab” from Tommy John surgery and is throwing sides twice a week.
• At the alternate training site in Altoona, right-handed reliever James Marvel sustained a right forearm strain but is “making nice strides in his return to throw” and is expected to throw off the slope in the next three to five days. Catcher Christian Kelley suffered a left wrist injury.
• Pitchers Nick Burdi, Michael Feliz and Clay Holmes — all shut down for the season with arm injuries — have been sent home for the summer after being placed on the 45-day IL.
“Once they are placed on that extended IL, they are technically out of the bubble,” Tomczyk said. “So we are facilitating rehab in their respective homes.”
