There was a lot of news about the Pirates’ pitching staff yesterday, including the revelation that starter Chris Archer won’t pitch this year if there is a baseball season. He had surgery Tuesday to relieve symptoms of thoracic outlet syndrome and will need to rehab six-to-eight months. That’s the same injury reliever Nick Burdi had after being injured while pitching against Arizona at PNC Park in April of last year. Archer will be the second Bucs’ pitcher ruled out before the season begins – if it ever does – with Jameson Taillon already out for the year rehabbing from a second Tommy John surgery.
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk says pitchers Steven Brault and Clay Holmes have recovered from their Spring Training injuries and are ready to go. Brault is competing for a spot in the rotation and Holmes in the bullpen. Tomczyk says Taillon is still progressing in his recovery and infielder Kevin Kramer is back home in Arizona rehabbing after hip surgery that will also cause him to miss the 2020 season.
When the new training camp begins GM Ben Cherington says it will be at PNC Park, not in Bradenton, Florida. He says they want to make certain they are close to their health experts and their Allegheny Heath Network medical providers. Cherington also said that they’ve not given up on having minor league baseball this year, although that may not save the Altoona Curve’s season. The Bucs’ GM says they are looking at either a possible Bradenton-based player development process or an expanded Arizona Fall League, incorporating other sites to get their minor leaguers some playing time.
In its latest mock draft, Baseball America has the Pirates selecting New Mexico State middle infielder Nick Gonzales seventh overall. The magazine has Pittsburgh taking Georgia right-hander Cole Wilcox 31st overall with a Competitive Balance Round A pick. The virtual two-day five-round MLB draft begins next Tuesday.
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