Video calls 'going a long way' for Pirates

It has been six weeks since the COVID-19 shutdown, and Pirates City in Bradenton, Fla. is mostly empty now. There are a few players remaining, still continuing their rehab that started before the shutdown, but most have gone home, though, wherever that might be.

That has created challenges for the Pirates' medical staff to keep touch with everyone.

“It’s been fun and it's been frustrating at times," director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said in a conference call Wednesday afternoon.

The players who are still in Pirates City will remain there through their rehabs, but the medical staff needs to keep tabs on everyone else as they try to stay close to baseball shape and the eventual workload to getting ready for when the season resumes.

So far, the communication between the team and the players who went home has been broken down into three phases. The first was checking in everyday and seeing how they are feeling. Had they been around virus carriers, are they showing any symptoms of COVID-19? Next they asked what each player had available to them. What's their area like? How are they going to train?

Now they are in the third phase: Watching the workouts. Players have been sending video, usually at the coaches request, and made video calls to keep everyone up to date. Sometimes, those workouts can be unique, like Gregory Polanco pulling bricks and throwing rocks to keep his shoulder active.

Tomczyk said the players, staff and medical team all appreciate the extra connectivity video provides.

“What we’ve learned is that the one-on-one — FaceTime, Zoom, Skype, whatever means we have — interactions are way more powerful and impactful than a phone call,” Tomczyk said. “They’re way more powerful and impactful than a text message. Just that personal interaction is going a long way."



More from Tomczyk:

• Speaking of Polanco, Tomczyk gave another promising report on Polanco and his left shoulder.

“Our belief is that the shoulder is strong,” Tomczyk said.

Polanco has also been doing more traditional workouts, like doing some tossing, both short range and longer throws that an outfielder would need to make.

“[We're] very encouraged with how Gregory is taking advantage of his time.”

• Jameson Taillon is continuing to match his rehab projections. He just completed one of two scheduled rest periods during his rehab from Tommy John surgery last week. Now he has begun throwing again and building arm strength.

“Everything is going without a glitch,” Tomczyk said.

• Steven Brault's rehab is going a bit behind schedule.  Originally he was supposed to be down for four weeks for a left shoulder muscle strain, but it has been five so far. He is in the advanced stages of his rehab, doing throwing activities and working with a medicine ball.

Brault had a similar shoulder injury last year, so the medical and coaching staff has been working on a few tweaks to his delivery to try to prevent this from becoming recurring problem. This was made possible because of the shutdown.

“This time afforded all of those specific areas to address those deficiencies and make sure to give him the best opportunity to come back stronger.”

• Clay Holmes is seven weeks removed from his right fibula fracture, and the bone has healed. He's been progressing with his ground-based training and throwing from flat ground.

“Very encouraging sign with Clay," Tomczyk said. "He’s building back his arm and preparing his arm for whatever season lies ahead."

He is scheduled to throw from a slope for the first time since the injury this week.