The Pittsburgh Pirates shut down Gregory Polanco when the right fielder felt discomfort running at maximum speed but remain optimistic that he will return shortly after the All-Star break.

Polanco was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a bilateral adductor strain, which Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk described as an injury to his core.

“We figured we would take this opportunity to allow the inflammation in the core-hip region to calm down,” Tomczyk said. “He did notice some soreness while out in Colorado that progressively got worse that the team identified relatively quickly.”

The Pirates had been using Polanco as a pinch hitter, but Tomczyk said that when Pirates general manager Ben Cherington and manager Derek Shelton sat down with Polanco, they decided “it was best just to pause all his activities.”

“Since he could hit but couldn’t run effectively,” Tomczyk said, “we just felt we could take advantage of the All-Star break and allow this to heal properly and get him back out there to being Greg.”

Polanco is one of a handful of Pirates position players on the IL that Tomczyk addressed in his weekly injury update, along with pitchers and minor league prospects:

• First baseman Colin Moran (fractured wrist) has not resumed hitting yet but does continue to report a decrease in soreness.

“So that is an encouraging sign,” Tomczyk said. “As soon as he is able, we’ll put a bat in his hand and have a hitting progression for Colin.”

• Corner infielder/outfielder Phillip Evans, injured while sliding into third base on Monday night, was placed on the seven-day concussion IL and “is making slow, steady progress.”

• Outfielder Ka’ai Tom (low back strain) has resumed throwing and hitting, and Tomczyk said the Pirates are optimistic that he will join Polanco in returning shortly after the All-Star break.

• Super utility infielder Erik Gonzalez (right side oblique strain) “is actually making some progress that is faster than we envisioned,” Tomczyk said. The Pirates are remaining “cautiously optimistic” because oblique strains “tend to feel better quickly, then the healing plateaus.” Tomczyk said Gonzalez is running at 60% but remains in a four- to six-week time frame to return.

• Left-handed pitcher Steven Brault (lat strain) threw a bullpen session on a major league mound last weekend while visiting PNC Park, then threw a three-inning simulated game Tuesday in Bradenton.

Brault will start his rehabilitation assignment Sunday for the Low-A Bradenton Marauders before joining Triple-A Indianapolis.

“We all deemed it a succesful trip for the reopening series back here in Pittsburgh,” Tomczyk said. “He’s definitely making nice strides in his rehab progression.”

• Right-hander Trevor Cahill (left calf strain) resumed playing catch on flat ground Tuesday after a setback.

“It’s been about three weeks since he last picked up a ball,” Tomczyk said, “so he’s going to need appropriate buildup to get him to a position where he can go out there and compete and help the team win.”

• Two Double-A Altoona prospects, shortstop Oneil Cruz and right-hander Roansy Contreras, were examined by team doctors and placed on the injured list with forearm strains.

Tomczyk called it “encouraging news” that neither injury was more serious. The Pirates expect Cruz to resume full baseball activities in two-to-three weeks and are hopeful that Contreras can resume playing catch in the next two-to-four weeks, then “build up appropriately, and get him back into a game activity and will finish the season strong.”

• Tomczyk said “it was exciting to see” video of Miguel Yajure throwing a side session and that “things are trending upward” for the Triple-A right-hander.

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