Francisco Cervelli works out at PNC Park, Pirates getting him work at many positions

It wasn’t just the heat wave that had Francisco Cervelli drenched in sweat in the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse Friday afternoon.

Members of the training staff put Cervelli through a strenuous workout in the left-field corner of PNC Park about four hours prior to Friday’s game. Cervelli was doing somersaults and alternating between squats and lunges, catching rubber balls thrown at him or into the air.

Manager Clint Hurdle had no immediate update on Cervelli’s status afterward, and there wasn’t expected to be one as the veteran catcher works his way back from a concussion suffered in late May.

Cervelli publicly has mused about giving up catching as the rigors of the position have contributed to several diagnosed concussions while he’s been in the majors alone.

View this post on Instagram

“Saying that I quit from my catcher responsibilities is inaccurate. My hope is to catch again. Not being in the catcher spot right now is part of the process of recovery from several concussions that have forced me to stop and think about my health beyond my baseball years, that have made me reflect on my health and my life in general and how my decisions affect other people that want the best for me in the long run. I keep working hard, there’s no other way for me to do things. I love baseball but I also have to take care of myself. I want to take care of myself and have quality of life now and hopefully from many more years This requires to reinvent myself, have patience and keep working In other words, to my fans, rest assured that I am working hard on my recovery and I will come back with more strength and the same passion I have always had for this sport. That, I can assure you: I have nothing other than passion, gratitude and love for what I do, for this sport. This isn’t just a job for me. This is part of my life and I can’t live my life without injecting passion and energy, heart and mind into what I do, whatever that is. " Decir que “renuncié” a ser catcher es exagerado ?. . Que no esté en la receptoría ahora mismo, es parte de mi proceso de recuperación de varias contusiones que me han obligado a parar y pensar en mí mismo más allá de mi carrera; que me han hecho reflexionar sobre mi salud y mi vida, y que involucra a muchas personas que quieren lo mejor para mí ?. . Yo, por mi parte, sigo trabajando duro, no puedo hacerlo de otra forma. Amo el beisbol, pero también quiero cuidarme y vivir una vida de calidad ⚾. . Eso implica reinventarme, tener paciencia y seguir trabajando. . Así que tranquilos, que me estoy recuperando y regresaré con más fuerza ?? y las mismas ganas de siempre, porque eso sí tengo yo: ganas, pasión y amor por lo que hago ??. Esto no es un simple trabajo para mí, esto es parte de mi vida y yo no puedo vivir mi vida de otra manera que no sea poniéndole el corazón y pasión a lo que hago, sea lo que sea.

A post shared by Francisco Cervelli (@fran_cervelli) on Jul 12, 2019 at 5:39pm PDT

“It’s day by day, working through it,” Hurdle said of Cervelli’s medical progress. “We are giving him all the work that he can take. He’s worked out in right field, he’s worked out at third base, he’s worked out at second base, he’s taken his swings.”

Love baseball? Stay up-to-date with the latest Pittsburgh Pirates news.