Pittsburgh Pirates News: Updates on Injured Pitchers

On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates gave updates on a trio of pitchers that were battling injury issues when the coronavirus pandemic suspended baseball.

Despite baseball still being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Pittsburgh Pirates still had some news on Wednesday. On Wednesday, the team gave an injury update on three pitchers who were battling injuries when spring training was suspend.

Right now, any baseball related news is good news. We here at Rum Bunter know we are not alone when we say we miss sports and sports news. That undoubtedly goes for all fans of baseball and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The news of these updates comes from Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic:

Obviously, all of this is good news.

Steven Brault was battling for the fifth and final spot in the Pittsburgh Pirates starting rotation. However, with how well Derek Holland was pitching in Grapefruit League play it appeared Brault would start the season in the bullpen. When he was shutdown with shoulder fatigue, the team announced he would not be ready for the start of the regular. This, however, is no longer the case.

Biertempfel reports that in 3-5 days Brualt will resume throwing after being shutdown last month. If/when the season is able to begin, Brault, barring any further setbacks, will be ready to go for the Bucs.

The same goes for reliever Clay Holmes. Entering the spring Holmes was out of minor league options, combine this with his stuff looking better than ever and him not allowing a run in Grapefruit League play, and he appeared to be well on his way to locking down an Opening Day bullpen spot before he broke his foot. With Holmes set to start throwing from a slope this week, he, like Brault, will likely be ready to go if/when the season begins.

Finally, there is starting pitcher Jameson Taillon.

Taillon is slated to miss the entire 2020 season after undergoing his second Tommy John Surgery last summer. Prior to getting hurt, Taillon had posted a 3.80 FIP and a 0.8 fWAR through his first seven starts of the 2019 season. This came on the heels of a 2018 season in which Taillon posted a 3.20 ERA, 3.46 FIP, 3.9 fWAR, and was the only National League starting pitcher with multiple complete games in a career high 32 starts.

Taillon appeared to be on his way to becoming one of the best starting pitchers in the NL before requiring his second TJS. All signs point toward this rehab going as well as possible for Taillon thus far. Hopefully, this will continue and he can return to the mound for the Pittsburgh Pirates stronger than ever in 2021.