Pittsburgh Pirates Activate Gregory Polanco From The Injured List

Gregory Polanco was activated from the injured list on Monday. He will make his 2019 season debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PNC Park. 

Gregory Polanco was on the mend from a shoulder injury he endured late last season. The Pittsburgh Pirates originally did not expect him back until at least mid-May if not June. However, from the start of Spring Training, it looked as if the big lefty could be back sooner.

After playing a handful of games at AAA Indianapolis with the Indians, in which Polanco went 6 for 20 at the plate, he will make his return to the Buccos’ lineup. The move was actually broke by the Pittsburgh Pirates twitter page when they tweeted a picture of Polanco standing in front of his locker.

Polanco hopes to have a hot start to his season as the Pirates aren’t scoring a ton of runs early on. His bat could provide an instant spark to get the rest of the lineup producing more frequently. The corresponding move to Polanco’s activation was the demotion of Steven Brault to Indianapolis. Brault wasn’t used very much so far this season, so this move makes a lot of sense.

Other notes on Monday…Kevin Newman will be sent out to Indianapolis to start his rehab assignment from the laceration on his finger. We can only speculate, but his activation could spell a demotion for Pablo Reyes or the DFA of JB Shuck. It would be extremely difficult to option Cole Tucker, due to his impressive debut.

This is all good new as the Pittsburgh Pirates have had big-time injury and offensive issues in the early going.  Polanco should provide a much-needed middle of the lineup type bat.  Meanwhile, Kevin Newman will make the bench much deeper once he returns.  Newman should have a somewhat quick rehab stint being he is simply working back from a laceration.