Pirates Injury Update (May 12): Enmanuel Valdez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Nick Gonzales

The Pittsburgh Pirates got some discouraging injury news on Sunday when general manager Ben Cherington said it "could be a while" before Enmanuel Valdez is reinstated from the injured list. Valdez, who is dealing with a shoulder issue, has a second opinion coming on his injury.

The Pirates placed Valdez on the 10-day injured list on Friday due to left shoulder inflammation, retroactive to May 8. In a corresponding move, they recalled Ji Hwan Bae from Triple-A Indianapolis. Bae appeared in each of the Pirates' games against the Atlanta Braves Saturday and Sunday, but only as a pinch runner and late-inning defensive replacement for Alexander Canario in center field.

The loss of Valdez is significant for the Pirates, as the 26-year-old has been serving as the club's primary first baseman since mid-April while Spencer Horwitz continues a minor-league injury rehab assignment at Indianapolis. Matt Gorski now figures to be the Pirates' primary option at first base until Horwitz and/or Valdez return.

Pirates Injury Update: Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Nick Gonzales close to returning

In more positive injury news, Cherington shared that shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa should be back with the Pirates "any day now" and that a rehab stint isn't expected.

Kiner-Falefa has been sidelined with a right hamstring strain since early May, and he resumed baseball activity and running the bases over the weekend. He first became eligible to return from the injured list on Sunday, and Cherington's comments seem to indicate that he may only need another day or two before being activated.

Kiner-Falefa's bat will be a sight for sore eyes whenever he does return to the Pirates' lineup, as he was slashing .280/.333/.330 in 190 plate appearances across his first 30 games of the year at the time of his injury. Jared Triolo, while providing solid defense at shortstop in Kiner-Falefa's balance, has hit just .149/.216/.239 in 67 trips to the plate this season.

Finally, Cherington noted that second baseman Nick Gonzales, who hasn't played since Opening Day on March 27 after suffering an ankle fracture, is close to beginning a rehab assignment. He has been taking part in base running activities, and he could be headed to Indianapolis as soon as this week.

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