Pirates reliever Duane Underwood Jr. has resumed throwing after hamstring strain in opener

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed reliever Duane Underwood Jr. has resumed throwing and is making “steady progress” from the right hamstring strain sustained in the season opener.

Underwood is one of a handful of Pirates players on the 10-day injured list for which the team’s director of sports medicine, Todd Tomczyk, provided updates on Wednesday morning:

• Lefty reliever Sam Howard (mid-back muscle strain) threw a live batting practice Tuesday and “initial responses were that he came back and felt good, felt normal,” Tomczyk said, adding that throwing in game competition will be his next step.

• Outfielder Anthony Alford (right wrist sprain) has resumed all hitting activities with “minimal to no symptoms,” Tomczyk said, and the Pirates anticipate getting him into game activity in the coming days.

• Righty reliever Luis Oviedo (right ankle sprain) made a rehabilitation assignment with the Low-A Bradenton Marauders and is expected to make another appearance Thursday and will continue with a spring training buildup in Florida.

• Righty starter Max Kranick (right forearm strain) pitched two innings for the Marauders Tuesday night and “early indications are that he recovered well,” said Tomczyk, adding that Kranick will throw a side session Thursday.

Kranic done after 2 IP in Bradenton. Fanned 3 and only man he didn't retire was Chris Meyers, who snuck a line-drive solo homer just inside the LF foul pole.

Lots of 96s and a couple 98s on the radar gun. Looked great overall. 24 pitches/16 strikes. #Pirates

— Spenser Smith (@TheSpenserSmith) April 12, 2022

• Outfielder Greg Allen, who is on the 60-day IL with a left hamstring strain, is eight days removed from receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection. Tomczyk said Allen is working on strength and range of motion but has not resumed any ground-based running yet.

• Righty reliever Blake Cederlind is continuing his throwing program from UCL surgery and could possibly throw a live batting practice later this week.

• Righty reliever Nick Mears, who is eight weeks removed from surgery on his right elbow, has progressed to throwing about 90 feet.

• Double-A Altoona right-hander Quinn Priester, the Pirates’ first-round pick in 2019, is on the seven-day IL with an oblique injury sustained in early April. He’s two weeks into a recovery that typically takes 28 to 35 days.

“Quinn’s making progress,” Tomczyk said. “He’s resumed playing catch but still a couple weeks out.”