Pirates Injury Update: Oneil Cruz IL move, Spencer Horwitz and Endy Rodríguez rehab news

The Pittsburgh Pirates transferred Oneil Cruz to the 60-day injured list Saturday as he continues his recovery from a fractured hand suffered in June.

The move doesn't indicate that Cruz suffered a setback. Instead, Pittsburgh needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Khristian Curtis, whose contract was selected ahead of Saturday's doubleheader in Cleveland. Cruz is now eligible to return Aug. 8.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said on his weekly radio show Sunday that "there's not a setback per se." All testing indicates that the broken bones in Cruz's hand are healing properly, but Cruz is still experiencing symptoms when swinging and making contact.

The Pirates were initially hopeful that Cruz could return to the team before the end of the July, though no guarantees had been made to that effect. Cherington added that the team's updated recovery plan already extended through Aug. 7, making the decision to use Cruz's roster spot logical. If his recovery continues progressing smoothly, Cruz could have a strong chance to return shortly after becoming eligible.

Spencer Horwitz, Endy Rodríguez could soon begin rehab assignments for Pirates

While the update on Cruz was disappointing, the Pirates could soon be getting two other important bats back in their lineup.

Cherington said Sunday that catcher Endy Rodríguez and first baseman Spencer Horwitz are both progressing well in their recoveries and could begin rehab assignments within the next week to 10 days.

Rodríguez has been on the 10-day IL with a left glute strain, retroactive to July 6, while Horwitz has been sidelined since June 25 because of a left hamstring strain.

Rodríguez’s eventual return would restore one of Pittsburgh’s most productive offensive catchers. Since being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on May 12, he has hit .260/.388/.470 with five home runs and 16 RBI in 35 games. Pairing him with a recently improved Henry Davis could give the Pirates considerably more offensive production behind the plate.

Horwitz, meanwhile, was enjoying a career year before landing on the IL. He is batting .280/.386/.455 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI in 74 games and had become a key piece near the top of Pittsburgh’s lineup.

Getting Horwitz back would also give Ryan O’Hearn more opportunities to move off first base and into the designated hitter role. With rookie Esmerlyn Valdez continuing to produce in right field, Horwitz’s return could make an already dangerous Pirates lineup even deeper for the stretch run.

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