Pirates Injury Update: Johan Oviedo, Spencer Horwitz, Hunter Stratton, Dauri Moreta

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Johan Oviedo, who missed all of the 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is now dealing with a new injury.

Pirates' senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk spoke to reporters at spring training Wednesday to provide updates on a handful of injured players, including Oviedo, who is at a no-throw status after suffering a right lat strain during camp.

According to Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the team is currently collaborating with Dr. Keith Meister, who performed Oviedo's UCL reconstructive surgery, and the recommendation is to re-image his right arm and right elbow in four weeks. At that point, the parties will reconvene to determine next steps in terms of a return to throw timeline.

Oviedo will now be on the injured list for at least the first two months of the 2025 season, meaning he can’t be reinstated until late May at the earliest. It's a tough blow for the Pirates' rotation and for Oviedo himself, who had been diligently working at rehabbing his elbow and was expected to earn a spot on Pittsburgh's active roster (likely as a member of the bullpen) to open the season.

Pirates Injury Update: Spencer Horwitz, Hunter Stratton, Dauri Moreta

Tomczyk also provided an update on first baseman Spencer Horwitz, who is one month post-surgery on his wrist and has begun a hitting progression in which he is taking dry swings (without a bat). He should be able to hit off a tee by early next week.

Horwitz has yet to begin throwing, but he should be able to in another week or so. He is fielding ground balls and participating in conditioning exercises, but it seems unlikely (though not impossible) that he will be ready for Opening Day.

Right-handed reliever Hunter Stratton pitched a simulated game Wednesday, and the Pirates remain encouraged by his progress in recovering from the ruptured patella tendon he suffered during a game against the Cincinnati Reds last August. Stratton is still building back up conditioning, per Destin, but otherwise the focus of his rehab is building up volume.

Finally, right-hander Dauri Moreta is continuing with his throwing program and is now throwing bullpen sessions as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. He hasn't faced any setbacks during his recovery, but is still not expected to face live hitting during spring training.

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