Pirates injury update: Reliever Nick Mears experiences forearm tightness in rehab outing

For the Pittsburgh Pirates, the road to recovery for a handful of players starts in Indianapolis.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said shortstop Kevin Newman (hamstring), first baseman Yoshi Tsutsugo (lower back) and infielder Josh VanMeter (finger) played “with no issues” for the Triple-A affiliate Tuesday night and outfielder Ben Gamel (hamstring) is expected to join the Indians on Thursday.

Right-handed pitcher Nick Mears (right elbow), however, shared with team officials after tossing 1 1/3 innings in relief in a 7-4 win over the Memphis Redbirds that he was experiencing forearm tightness.

“They’re still working through what that means for Nick,” said Tomczyk, who called Mears’ status on his rehabilitation assignment “to be determined.” Tomczyk said Mears will be reassessed before any decisions are made.

In other Pirates injury news, per Tomczyk:

• Right-hander Zach Thompson, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with nerve inflammation in his right forearm, is not going throw for a couple days “to allow this inflammation to subside, allow the body team and the medical team to clean up some things overall,” Tomczyk said, adding the Pirates are optimistic Thompson will be out the minimum time.

• Lefty reliever Dillon Peters (lower back) is expected to throw a live batting practice this weekend in Tampa Bay.

• Righty reliever Blake Cederlind, recovering from Tommy John surgery, is “making nice strides” since taking a plasma-rich platelet injection and will begin throwing side sessions later this week. “Blake is trending in the right direction,” Tomczyk said.

• Outfielder Greg Allen continues his running progression at Pirate City in Bradenton, Fla., and will work out at Tropicana Field when the Pirates visit the Rays. “He’s still a little ways away,” Tomczyk said, “but he’s making progress and getting closer.”

• Two players placed on the covid-19 injured list — outfielder Jake Marisnick and right-handed pitcher Duane Underwood Jr. — have been cleared to return to team facilities. The Pirates transferred Marisnick, who is recovering from surgery on his left thumb, to the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

“He’s gonna work out with the team over the next couple days, probably build up his baseball endurance over the weekend,” Tomczyk said, “then hopefully we’re talking about him getting some minor-league at-bats some time next week.”

• Double-A Altoona second baseman Nick Gonzales, the 2020 first-round draft pick who is ranked the Pirates’ top prospect by MLB Pipeline, was re-examined by the team’s foot and ankle specialist in Pittsburgh and has plantar fascia of his right heel.

Tomczyk said Gonzales will need to wear a protective boot for two to four weeks for immobilization. Gonzales has been placed on the minor-league 60-day injured list.