After a year filled with setbacks and rehab, it looks like Gregory Polanco's left shoulder should be ready for 2020.
Polanco had a sight visit at the Pirates' facilities in Bradenton last week, where the team confirmed the rehab on his left shoulder is going well. He is now making throws from 120 feet.
"The arm, the body is moving in much more sequence than it has in the past," director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said in a conference call.
He is on target to go into spring training without any restrictions.
Tomczyk said Polanco's problem last year was not how hard he was throwing, but the volume of throws he has to make over a full season. He also reiterated Polanco's shoulder is going to need to continue to be managed.
"There may be additional times throughout his career that we hit the pause button and have to work on the range of motion again," Tomczyk said. "And that may include, per doctor's guidance and per doctor's recommendation, additional biological injections."
Polanco was scheduled to have three platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in his left shoulder starting in early September. He had all three, but has not needed any other injections or medical attention outside of his rehab since then.
• Edgar Santana and Chad Kuhl - both of whom are recovering from Tommy John surgery - are in the middle of their offsesason throwing programs.
"No different than the rest of our pitchers group," Tomczyk said.
Both are projected to be ready for spring training.
• Jason Martin's rehab (left shoulder) is going "extremely well" after his surgery in October. He may be a little behind going into spring training, but that is to be determined.
• Nick Burdi (biceps) is going through his offseason throwing program with no subjective complaints. The Pirates have had numerous sight visits with him as he ramps up the distance and intensity of his throws. He is progressing nicely and Tomczyk is "cautiously optimistic" Burdi will be ready to go for spring training.
• Starling Marte (left wrist), Chris Archer (right shoulder) and Josh Bell (groin) all missed the closing weeks of the regular season with injuries, but all three are having what Tomczyk categorizes as healthy offseason.
• Erik Gonzalez needed surgery after fouling a ball off his left foot on Nov. 11. He had a doctor's visit last week and is still in the original projected time frame of an 8-10 week return to full baseball activities, which would mean he would be ready for spring training. There are no long term concerns for his season or career.
• There is a sight visit scheduled for Kyle Crick (right index finger) very soon. He has full range of motion and full strength in the finger, and he is on track with his throwing program.
• J.T. Brubaker (forearm) is on his normal offseason throwing program.
• Geoff Hartlieb (right foot) is on track for the original 12-week recovery prognosis after his foot surgery. He had the procedure on Oct. 9, which means his full return would come in early January. He stood on his foot without a boot and threw a baseball for the first time since the surgery on Dec. 13.
I got to stand on my foot (in a boot) and throw a baseball for the first time since Sept. 26th. Cannot wait to get fully healthy and get ready for 2020, today put some pep back in my step forsure ?? @SportsLabHLand @SamWeber_4 pic.twitter.com/E25hkIEneq
— Geoff Hartlieb (@itsgeoffnotjeff) December 14, 2019
