Pirates' Ke'Bryan Hayes on track to return from injured list as soon as eligible

Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a mid-back muscle strain, is expected to return Aug. 23, the first day he’d be eligible, the team’s director of sports medicine said Wednesday.

“Ke’Bryan (is) completing some advanced upper-level plyometic activities,” Todd Tomczyk said. “So, he’s making some nice strides. We envision (him) resuming baseball activities later this week.”

Describing the plyometrics Hayes has been up to, Tomcyzk added, “It’s a similar form of throwing, but with a weighted ball — but not actually throwing a ball.”

Closer David Bednar has been on the 15-day injured list retroactive to July 31 with low back inflammation.

“David is making some nice slow progressions in his rehab. He… is beginning a plyo-ball progression,” Tomczyk said. “We anticipate (him) throwing the baseball either later this week or early next. Overall, (I’m) encouraged by David’s progression and progress in regards to his injury.”

Bednar is first eligible to return to action on Aug. 15.

Reliever Dillon Peters, who has been on the 15-day IL since Aug. 4, is going through similar plyometric activities to Bednar, per Tomczyk, and is expected to begin throwing sessions later this week.

Tomczyk also commented on Pirates starter Mitch Keller, who left Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox with right shoulder fatigue after pitching just two innings.

Keller appears to be uninjured, having gone on to play catch with manager Derek Shelton and some medical performance staff.

As for reliever Yerry De Los Santos, who was placed on the 60-day IL on Aug. 12, ending his 2021 campaign, the Pirates are looking toward his recovery and return next year.

“Unfortunately, he did sustain that lat muscle strain while the club was on the road in Arizona,” Tomczyk said. “Unfortunate, yet opportunistic for Yerry. I think Yerry had put a nice, solid foundation of work throughout the season.

“He learned a lot about himself, we learned a lot about him, and this will now give us an opportunity to make sure he is in the best position heading into the offseason so he can be a viable piece of the major league bullpen next season.”

Catcher Roberto Perez was placed on the 60-day IL in May due to a hamstring injury and has been cleared to begin the strength phase of his rehab, per Tomczyk.

“He is very, very encouraged about his progress,” Tomczyk said. “At the earliest, he is not going to be cleared to play in any game activity until about six months, but overall, Roberto is doing very good.”

Tomczyk had a few further updates regarding some injured Pirates minor-leaguers.

At Triple-A Indianapolis, infielder Ji-hwan Bae is close to returning to the fold for the Indians following an oblique injury in late July.

“He is actually ahead of schedule,” Tomczyk said. “We envision him being in a lineup in the next couple of days.”

Catcher Henry Davis, who injured his wrist in July with Double-A Altoona, has “resumed all baseball activities,” per Tomczyk.

“He’s catching bullpens. He’s blocking balls. He’s throwing the bases. He’s running the bases. He’s hitting,” Tomczyk said. “The next steps to be determined … is to get him into some type of game activities.”

Curve outfielder Matt Gorski is also back to performing all baseball activities following a leg injury he suffered at the end of June.

At Single-A Bradenton, pitcher Brennan Malone underwent shoulder surgery Tuesday.