Cervelli feeling 'better' after sitting Sunday, but Diaz recalled from Indianapolis

CINCINNATI — Francisco Cervelli has no plans to head to the disabled list, but the Pirates have added insurance in case his knee injury worsens.

Top catching prospect Elias Diaz was recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis prior to Monday night's 7:10 p.m. game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park and catcher John Borrman, who had an at-bat during his emergency call up in Sunday's loss to Miami, was optioned to Class A Bradenton.

With Cervelli missing his second consecutive start because of a lingering right foot injury, Diaz is available off the bench and will serve as Chris Stewart's backup with left-hander Amir Garrett starting for the Reds.



"Diaz is going to provide us a transition guy we can count on who knows our staff, knows most of the guys," Clint Hurdle said. "Has been in time and will be ready to provide some service for us here. I’m not so sure to what degree we need to push Stewart here early in the season."

Diaz, who was batting .305 in 15 games at Indianapolis, arrived in Cincinnati Monday morning. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in his last game with the Indians on Saturday.

Cervelli, though, does not seem to think the 26-year-old catcher will be needed for long.

Cervelli arrived at Great American Ball Park early Monday to receive treatment on his foot and went through a light workout. Hurdle had yet to speak to him during his meeting with reporters Monday afternoon, but Cervelli later said he felt "better" after taking Sunday off and no, he does not want to head to the 10-day disabled list.

"No, not going to happen," Cervelli said with a laugh. "Not going to happen."

Yet, the Pirates needed insurance, particularly since the club does not have a day off this week. They have a four-game series in Cincinnati before hosting the Brewers for three games this weekend. Hurdle will likely not rush Cervelli back into the lineup, but help was needed in the interim.

Stewart missed almost all of July and August last season because of a knee injury. The 35-year-old catcher was sore Monday morning after being hit with two foul balls in Sunday's loss, but was well enough to get the start for the first game of the series.

Diaz provides insurance and is someone who is very familiar with the Pirates' pitching staff through his time with Indianapolis and with the Pirates in spring training, particularly Tyler Glasnow and Jameson Taillon, who are projected to start games two and three in this series.

"Definitely," Diaz said if that comfortability matters. "I know everybody here. We played in minor leagues for a while. It’s good to be in the same group."

The Pirates are in a better position this year with Diaz healthy. With Cervelli and Stewart injured in 2016, the club was forced to turn to veteran Erik Kratz and Jacob Stallings because Diaz was injured. He was limited to just 25 games with Indianapolis after undergoing elbow surgery last May.

When the Indians' season ended, Diaz was not called up. Instead, he underwent surgery for an infection in his left leg. He then played winter ball in his native Venezuela, but suffered an oblique injury that limited him to just 12 games during the winter.

"I'm just glad to be here no matter where I'm at. Here or down there," Diaz said Monday afternoon.

Cervelli, on the other hand, is clearly frustrated with yet another setback. He was limited to 95 games behind the plate and underwent surgery last June on a broken hamate bone in his left hand. It was a frustrating season for Cervelli, but he said his return will be much quicker with this injury.

"Probably tomorrow or a couple of days I'm fine," he said, adding that he'll wait for the offseason to take a week of rest.

In the meantime, Diaz is the latest player called up because of injury. Jose Osuna, Gift Ngoepe, Davydas Neverauskas, Danny Ortiz and Borrman have all made their major-league debuts since April 18. There will be no such heartfelt moment for Diaz in Cincinnati.

He made his major league debut Sept. 12, 2015, going 0-for-1 at the plate against the Brewers. Hurdle saw this as an opportunity to give the promising prospect a chance to once again get acclimated to the major leagues and to give his two veteran catchers some much needed rest with the Pirates set to only have one day off in the month of May.

"This is a guy we’re trying to groom and raise to be a major league catcher for us and to help out," Hurdle said. "Now the opportunity looks like it’s going to be better for him now."

• The Pirates received some positive news when arriving in Cincinnati. Right-handed pitcher Chad Kuhl is not experiencing any pain after taking a grounder off the inside of his knee during the 10-3 loss to Miami Sunday afternoon.

His knee is swollen and bruised, but he does not anticipate missing his next start.

"Those are hard," Kuhl said of the grounder. "The comebacks you have a chance, but if there’s one down there it’s just … it hurt really bad."