BRADENTON, Fla. — The Pittsburgh Pirates are anticipating that right fielder Gregory Polanco will be healthy when he reports to Pirate City for spring training, director of sports medicine and performance Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday.
Polanco played in only 42 games last season after having setbacks from surgery on his left shoulder the previous September. He batted .242 with six home runs and 17 RBIs.
“It’s monitoring his workload,” Tomczyk said. “The biggest challenge at the end of the season with Gregory was hitting. That issue has seemed to be resolved and rectified at this point, and we’re excited to see where that plays in camp.”
Tomcyzk also provided medical updates on a handful of Pirates players coming off surgery. He called it “refreshing” that pitchers Chad Kuhl and Edgar Santana — who both missed last season following Tommy John surgery — and Nick Burdi (biceps) also reported to camp healthy.
Shortstop Erik Gonzalez, who fractured his left foot on a foul ball in winter ball, is cleared to play but will have his sprinting and endurance monitored. Catcher Christian Kelley, who broke his left hand in late December, will have his volume monitored.
Players who have no restrictions include reliever Kyle Crick (finger); pitcher Geoff Hartlieb, who had surgery on his right foot in October; outfielder Jason Martin, who had left shoulder surgery; and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes (finger).
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