Bryan Reynolds resumes throwing, a positive sign for Pirates All-Star to return to outfield

Bryan Reynolds is back to throwing the ball, a good sign for the Pittsburgh Pirates to get the two-time All-Star back to the outfield after spending the first two weeks of the season at designated hitter.

Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Reynolds, who is dealing with a right teres major shoulder injury, is playing catch to 70 feet. The next step is to see how he responds.

“No issues with throwing, so that’s very encouraging news,” Tomczyk said before Wednesday’s game. “He continues to be symptom-free when hitting from both sides of the plate. Bryan is making nice progress. We’ll continue to see how he responds to throwing, to hopefully be a full complementary player sooner than later.”

Tomczyk, however, said it’s “unlikely” Gold Glove utility infielder Jared Triolo will avoid a rehabilitation assignment when he recovers from his 10-day stint on the injured list with a lower back muscle strain.

Tomczyk said the goal is to get Triolo, who was scratched from the starting lineup Sunday when his back locked up while running, back to doing baseball activities by this weekend or early next week.

“He’s actually improving every single day,” Tomczyk said. “Our goal is to get him back to baseball activities as quick as possible.”

Right-handed reliever Colin Holderman, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a strained MCL in his right knee, has resumed throwing and played catch to 120 feet “with zero to minimal symptoms.” Tomczyk said Holderman will continue to ramp up his activity to throwing off a slope, possibly by this weekend.

First baseman Spencer Horwitz (right wrist surgery) is now hitting and taking ground balls with no restrictions. Horwitz is ramping up the volume of work at the plate to where he was scheduled to hit on the field last week, which was postponed because of the cold weather. Horwitz will travel with the team to Cincinnati.

“He is trending in a really good position to have conversations with the performance team, (Derek Shelton) and Ben (Cherington) about how and when we can consider rehab games, hopefully later this month or early next,” Tomczyk said.

Second baseman Nick Gonzales, who suffered a non-displaced fracture of the left ankle, took a “very important step” by improving from non-weight bearing to partial weight bearing movement.

“If we get the healing that we’d like to see,” Tomczyk said, “then it’s off to the races for Gonzo.”

Right-handed starter Jared Jones was pain-free during an examination by Dr. Darren Frank at the three-week mark of being shut down for right elbow soreness, which Tomczyk described as a “very important landmark for him and his rehab progression.” Jones started two-handed plyometric ball program and was symptom free. He will have another CT scan at the six-week mark.

“If that shows the healing that we all envisioned, he will then begin a throwing program at that point, as well,” Tomczyk said.

The general rule of thumb is two weeks of rehabilitation for every week not throwing, but Tomczyk said the Pirates’ goal is “to see if we can minimize that time, reduce that time safely. The goal of any rehab is to get back expeditiously as a sustainable return. We don’t want this to come back.”

Right-hander Johan Oviedo (right lat strain) is approaching the six-week mark in his recovery and will be re-examined by Dr. Frank on Friday, then collaborate with orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister.

“The goal, which I believe we will obtain and he’ll get there, is to begin throwing Saturday,” Tomczyk said. “So that’s very encouraging news for Johan.”

Righty reliever Dauri Moreta (elbow) is “progressing well” while throwing live bullpens once a week with a side session in-between at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla. Tomczyk said the goal for Moreta is to begin throwing simulated games by the end of the month or early next month and to be on track to potentially be considered for a rehab assignment in early May.

In the minor leagues, Triple-A Indianapolis infielder Nick Yorke was placed on the seven-day injured list after battling persistent right shoulder symptoms during spring training to prevent a long-term issue. He has resumed throwing to 90 feet and is expected to return to playing soon.