Pirates injury report: Catcher an issue, as Jason Delay shut down from baseball activities

With three catchers out with injuries, the position is not only the walking wounded for the Pittsburgh Pirates but one with some uncertainty around the timetable for their return.

With Yasmani Grandal (left plantar fasciitis) and Jason Delay (right knee inflammation) on the 10-day injured list and Endy Rodriguez out for the season after Tommy John surgery, it prompted the Pirates to trade for Joey Bart to back up Henry Davis.

It doesn’t look like Delay will be returning anytime soon.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Delay has been shut down from all baseball activities, as the knee “continues to give him some problems.” Tomczyk said the Pirates are discussing the next steps with team doctors and considering seeking second opinions and expects to have a plan within the next week.

“Unfortunately, what he has, he’s not able to play,” Tomczyk said. “Bottom line is, he’s not able to function as a major league catcher.”

Grandal has been participating in simulated games, using the Trajekt pitching robot, and will begin baserunning in the coming days.

“That’s kind of been fun to watch with the new technology we have in the cage with the Trajekt,” Tomczyk said. “He’s actually been able to get live-game at-bats off the pitchers and also simulated innings up and down catching game-like velocity. So he’s progressing well.”

Tomczyk, however, cautioned that the Pirates still need to determine when Grandal can start a rehabilitation assignment, a decision that will involve general manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton.

“We need to sit down with Yaz, we need to sit down with Shelty to see what makes the most sense for Yaz and the team both short and long term,” Tomczyk said. “Once he’s back, he’s back. What we would like to avoid is a recurring issue with this.”

Rodriguez, meantime, was checked by surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache and appears to be doing “remarkably well.” Rodriguez is on track to meet key landmarks in his recovery, starting with a swing progression from the left side next before beginning a formal hitting progression in early May, which would involve hitting a ball off the tee.

In other Pirates injury news:

* Right-handed reliever Colin Holderman, who was placed on the 15-day injured list after losing 15 pounds in spring training because of an illness, returned to Pittsburgh for a reassessment. Holderman is on the taxi squad and hasn’t been activated.

* Lefty reliever Ryan Borucki (left elbow/triceps) is “feeling a lot better,” and the Pirates anticipate him playing catch in the coming days.

* Righty reliever Carmen Mlodzinski (right forearm) “continues to make nice strides” in his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis.

* After playing one game for Low-A Bradenton, infielder/outfielder Ji Hwan Bae (left hip strain) has transitioned his rehabilitation assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis.

* Right-handed starter Thomas Harrington (rotator cuff), a top-10 prospect, had started to play light catch and is throwing 75-90 feet.

* Pitching prospects Jun-Seok Shim and Owen Kellington were placed on the minor league 60-day injured list. Shim, who is dealing a right pectoral injury, is throwing from 75-90 feet. Kellington has a right elbow injury and is in the process of seeking a second opinion.