Chris Stewart Out Four to Six Weeks for Pirates

Mar 10, 2014; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Chris Stewart (19) works out prior to the game against the Baltimore Orioles at McKechnie Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates learned today that reserve catcher Chris Stewart will be out four to six weeks after having surgery on his right knee.  So will the Bucs look to make a trade for the short term?  Let’s hope not.

The Pirates were counting on Stewart to back up iron man Russell Martin this season while Tony Sanchez played regularly in Triple-A.  Martin was acquired in free agency and came with high miles, strong defensive abilities and an incredible work ethic.

Feb 27, 2014; Tampa, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Chris Stewart (19) against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Stewart is cut from the same cloth, with a little less pop in his bat.  The Bucs, who also acquired Stewart from the Yankees this offseason, announced today that he underwent arthroscopic surgery to have his right knee scraped by the reknowned Dr. James Andrews.  The injury occured on March 12 in a game against the Minnesota Twins.  Todays date is March 19, sounds like Dr. Andrews is a busy man.

With Stewart not out for an extended period of time, the decision will now be an important one for the organization.  But still, six weeks is a long time to go without depth at the catching position that the team feels confident sending onto Victory Field in Indy or God forbid, PNC Park.  Injuries to either Martin or Sanchez would be devastating.

But the only thing Sanchez was injuring last night was the baseball.  After two poor plate appearances against the Red Sox Jake Peavy ended in brutal strikeouts, Sanchez saved his best production for the final plate appearance of the day.  The Pirates backstop came up big when the game was on the line, Sanchez delivered a line drive single that was the game winner for the Bucs in Fort Myers as they defeated the World Champs.