Pirates injury update: Oneil Cruz timeline, Konnor Griffin rehab, Wilber Dotel

The Pittsburgh Pirates received a clearer picture of Oneil Cruz's recovery timeline on Sunday, though the news still leaves them without one of their most dynamic players for the foreseeable future.

General manager Ben Cherington said Cruz is expected to miss approximately four to six weeks after suffering non-displaced fractures of the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones in his left hand. The injury occurred during a hard slide into home plate against the Atlanta Braves last weekend.

Cruz was officially placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday after additional testing revealed the fractures. The encouraging news is that surgery does not appear necessary at this time, but the 27-year-old will still need significant time for the bones to heal before he can resume baseball activities.

Given the projected recovery window, a return before the All-Star break appears unlikely. The Pirates could opt to keep Cruz sidelined through the mid-July break to ensure he is fully healthy for the second half of the season.

Before the injury, Cruz was enjoying the best all-around season of his career, batting with an .822 OPS while adding 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases. His absence leaves a significant void in Pittsburgh's lineup and outfield defense as the club tries to remain competitive in the National League playoff race.

Pirates Injury Update: Konnor Griffin heads to Florida for throwing program

The Pirates are beginning to see meaningful progress in Konnor Griffin's recovery from a right forearm muscle strain, though the rookie shortstop still has several steps to clear before returning to the Major League lineup.

Cherington said Sunday that Griffin will travel to Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla., while the Pirates embark on their upcoming road trip to Sacramento and Colorado. There, Griffin will begin what Cherington described as a "legitimate throwing progression" before eventually advancing to a minor league rehab assignment.

The Pirates have been encouraged by Griffin's progress. While throwing remained off-limits for much of his recovery, he taking batting practice, running the bases and fielding ground balls throughout his time on the IL.

Griffin resumed throwing Tuesday, working out to 90 feet at roughly 75% effort after spending two weeks completely shut down from throwing following a second opinion with orthopedic specialist Dr. Keith Meister.

The rookie hasn't played since May 27 and was placed on the injured list May 31. While no timetable has been announced for his return, the latest update represents a significant step toward getting one of Pittsburgh's brightest young stars back on the field.

Pirates Injury Update: Wilber Dotel's lat strain considered relatively minor

The Pirates placed rookie right-hander Wilber Dotel on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a right lat strain, but the club is optimistic the injury won't keep him sidelined for an extended period.

Cherington said the Pirates believe they identified the injury early and are hopeful Dotel's recovery will be on the "shorter side." Dotel revealed he first felt discomfort during his outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, when he endured the worst appearance of his young major-league career. The 23-year-old failed to retire any of the six batters he faced and was charged with six earned runs during the Dodgers' decisive 10-run seventh inning.

Dotel's struggles continued Friday against the Miami Marlins, as he allowed four runs and walked three batters over 1.2 innings while taking the loss. The lat strain may have contributed to both outings.

Prior to those appearances, Dotel had been one of Pittsburgh's most effective relievers. Across his first seven major-league appearances this season, he posted a 1.08 ERA with 17 strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed in 16.2 innings.

The Pirates recalled Brandan Bidois from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace Dotel in the bullpen.

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