Kramer out 4-6 months after hip surgery

Pirates utility player Kevin Kramer is expected to be out four to six months after undergoing hip surgery last week.

Kramer had been experiencing recent and chronic symptoms that prohibited him from continuing his training and preparation for the season. The procedure performed was a labral repair.

The 26-year-old was a second round pick in 2015 and had made MLB cameos the past two seasons. While he has had some strong seasons in the minors, he has struggled to hit Major League pitching, slashing .152/.222/.165 with nine RBIs in 90 career plate appearances.

He went into spring training potentially in the mix for a bench job, especially after he started to learn how to play the outfield in 2019. He bounced between the majors and minors last year.

“Nobody wants to be the guy that goes up and down [from the majors and triple-A], but that’s part of the business. That’s part of the game,” Kramer told me during spring training in Bradenton, Fla.. “I’m looking to put in good work. I’m looking to do what what I can and the results I hope are going to show up.”

MLB rosters are expected to be expanded to 30 players this year with a 20 man taxi squad. Kramer's versatility in the field made him a candidate for one of those 30 jobs. If he did not make the team, he would have been one of the first players selected off the taxi squad.

The MLB season could potentially stretch into October this year, meaning there is an outside chance Kramer could return towards the end of the year if his rehab goes well. However, it seems more likely his 2020 season is over.