Pirates' Gregory Polanco will be OK for spring training, but shoulder will need monitoring

Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco’s extended recovery from shoulder surgery continues, but he should have no restrictions when he reports to spring training.

But that doesn’t mean his shoulder problems are finished.

Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates’ director of sports medicine, said Polanco’s shoulder will require regular management, possibly including further platelet-rich plasma injections that have been a part of his rehab.

“There may be additional times throughout his career that we hit the pause button and have to work on the range of motion again,” Tomczyk said. “That may include, per doctors’ guidance and doctors’ recommendations, additional biological injections.”

Speaking on a conference call with reporters Monday, Tomczyk said Polanco, who had surgery on his left (throwing) shoulder in September 2018, is throwing at distances of up to 120 feet.

“The body is moving in a much more sequenced (manner) than it has,” he said. “The brain and the arm are connecting a lot better.”

Polanco suffered an acute dislocation of his shoulder on Sept. 7, 2018, while attempting to slide into second base. The surgery five days later repaired the labrum and stabilized the shoulder, but Polanco was not physically at 100% last season.

He returned to the lineup April 22 — earlier than expected — but appeared in only 42 games, hit just six home runs and didn’t play after June 16. That was after hitting a career-high 23 homers in 2018.

“Where his challenge was was the volume (of work),” Tomczyk said. “He was strong enough. He was in a good spot to proceed. It’s just that we had hiccuped in regard to the overall baseball volume last year.

“That’s last year. We’re focused having a good 2020 season.”

In other Pirates injury news:

• Tomczyk said he doesn’t expect Jameson Taillon to pitch next season after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery Aug. 13. Taillon has said he is not ruling out pitching before the end of the 2020 season.

“I think we all know the type of character (Jameson has) and the type of person Jameson is and the struggles that he has conquered throughout his career, and he’s going through one right now,” Tomczyk said.

“From a medical rehab perspective, it doesn’t make much sense to push him to return this year.”

Tomczyk said repeat Tommy John surgeries generally call for a 16- to 18-month recovery period.

“I am all for pushing the limits from a rehab perspective, pushing the body, both physically and mentally, within reason.

“I believe when he comes back from that surgery and pitches, this isn’t just for one year. It’s for four to five more years.

“We’ll never rule anything out 100%, but if anything is close to 100 percent, it is that Jameson will not be competing at the major league level in the year 2020.”

• Edgar Santana and Chad Kuhl, two Tommy John patients who had their procedures in 2018, are in the midst of off-season throwing programs “no different than the rest of our pitchers group,” Tomczyk said.

• Pitcher Nick Burdi, who had surgery last June to relive arm pain diagnosed as neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome, continues to increase the distance and intensity of his throws.

“The body is in a good spot,” Tomczyk said. “We are cautiously optimistic that Nick will be ready to go for spring training.”

• Outfielder Jason Martin, who had left shoulder surgery Oct. 18, is only two months into a rehab period estimated at four to six months.

“That’s butting up against spring training,” Tomczyk said. “Thankfully, this is a nondominant throwing and nondominant hitting shoulder.

“Our focus is not just to get him ready for spring training. Our focus is getting him ready for the season and his career.”

• Infielder Erik Gonzalez, who suffered a left foot fracture in winter ball, is recovering from surgery last month and is in the midst of an eight-to-10-week recovery period.

• Relief pitcher Kyle Crick, who had finger surgery after an altercation with former teammate Felipe Vazquez in September, will have no medical restrictions in spring training, Tomczyk said.

• Relief pitcher Geoff Hartlieb, who had right foot surgery in October, is in the midst of a 12-week rehab.

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