Pittsburgh Pirates Charlie Morton Expected To Throw Bullpen Session in New York

Charlie Morton returned to Pittsburgh yesterday for the Pirates team doctors to examine his right throwing shoulder.  The Bucs pitcher had experienced tightness in the shoulder during a rehab start in Triple-A Indianapolis.

As you know, Morton is nearing the completition of his rehab tour of the minor league system as he recovers from Tommy John ligament replacement  surgery.  The should just couldn’t get loose for him and the Bucs took the precaution of shutting him down.

In Charlie’s interesting way, this is what he said on the Bucs pregame show yesterday.

"“It’s a setback for my readiness if it alters my schedule, which I’m assuming  it would,” Morton said. “I’m not sure how much that would affect my return to  the big leagues. My return is dependent on many more factors than my  readiness.”"

Listening in on the show this morning, Clint Hurdle said that Morton will start some flat work this week, probably Tuesday.  The Bucs skipper said Electric Stuff is expected to throw a bullpen in New York, meaning Morton will travel with the team on its’ upcoming road trip.

As Morton said, he didn’t think it would be bad and with this bit of good news, it seems that he will need to “work through it,” as Hurdle said on the show on 93.7 The Fan.

The 30-day rehab  assignment was expected to end on May 17 for the Bucco sinkerballer, but of course the Pirates organization can stop the clock on that if they need to.