Pirates C/1B Endy Rodriguez suffers setback, will have finger immobilized for another week

Doctors recommended that Endy Rodriguez immobilize his right index finger for another week, a setback for the Pittsburgh Pirates catcher/first baseman’s timeline to return to playing.

Rodriguez suffered a laceration on top of the knuckle when a ball ricocheted off his right hand in the first inning against the Washington Nationals on April 14 and was placed on the 10-day injured list the next day. Rodriguez was eligible to be activated on Friday.

Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Rodriguez won’t require surgery, so it’s just a matter of allowing the skin to heal.

“As we all saw, that was a pretty nasty laceration with the amount of blood that was on the field,” Tomczyk said Wednesday. “We envisioned not being Day 11 but not being too far after that. Unfortunately, due to the complication of the laceration and where it’s located – it’s healing, there’s no signs of infection – but because of the amount of motion that’s needed in that finger … our doctors, including some other second-opinion docs, have opted to immobilize this for another week.”

The Pirates got better news with a pair of infielders. First baseman Spencer Horwitz, who underwent surgery on his right wrist in early February, began his rehabilitation assignment last week with the Double-A Altoona Curve. Second baseman Nick Gonzales, out since suffering a non-displaced fracture of his left ankle on Opening Day, received “good news” Friday following an X-ray when he was cleared from wearing a walking boot. Gonzales now is using an ankle brace.

“You’ll see him throwing. You’ll see him hitting. You’ll probably see him taking ground balls,” Tomczyk said. “The goal for this week is to get him to start jogging and perform some agilities by the end of this week.”

Another promising development is that right-handed starter Jared Jones (right UCL sprain) has been cleared to throw, and experienced no issues during two sessions of light catch out to 60 feet. After being shut down since late March, Jones will continue to build up intensity and volume, increasing his distance to 90 and 120 feet “with intent, with good form.”

“It’s going to be a collaborative effort, notably with Jared, with our pitching department and our performance team,” Tomczyk said. “(We want him to) continue to be pain free, continue to be fluid, but he missed six weeks, so he’s going to need some time to build up.”

Jones will require a ramp-up that is projected to take about 12 weeks, which would put him on track to return after the All-Star break.

“We’re always open to accelerating that, if and when it’s safe and how it’s safe,” Tomczyk said, “and what’s best for Jared.”

Lefty reliever Tim Mayza (left shoulder) is on the 60-day injured list and has been shut down from throwing for about six weeks. Righty reliever Justin Lawrence (elbow inflammation) also is on no-throw status while awaiting a second opinion from orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister.

Tomczyk said right-handed starter Johan Oviedo, whose return from Tommy John surgery was stalled by a right lat strain, is throwing out to 90 feet with no issues and “continues to dominate his rehab” at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla.

Righty reliever Dauri Moreta, also recovering from Tommy John surgery, has pitched in two games for Low-A Bradenton with no issues.

“Super excited for him,” Tomczyk said. “All the work he put in, he really met the bar, actually exceeded it in our opinion. From a rehab perspective, he came back to competition from Tommy John surgery in 13 months’ time. That’s pretty good.”