Pirates rookie Ke'Bryan Hayes back swinging, but not ready to return from IL

Ke’Bryan Hayes took a “step in the right direction” by taking swings in the batting cage, but the Pittsburgh Pirates rookie third baseman isn’t ready to return from the injured list yet.

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said the club is being careful to monitor how Hayes, out since April 3 with a left wrist injury, responds to taking swings from soft-toss the past two days before allowing him to accelerate to facing live pitching.

“Definitely a step in the right direction. Definitely progress,” Tomczyk said Wednesday, adding Hayes also is taking ground balls in the field, running the bases and doing defensive work. “So, all in all, very encouraging.”

Hayes was eligible to come off the 10-day injured list Wednesday, but Tomczyk called it a “safe assumption” that Hayes will not return for the final two games in the Pirates’ series against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park. Tomczyk, however, didn’t rule out that Hayes could return for this weekend’s games at Milwaukee.

“We don’t want to make this a long-term injury. We don’t want to rush any athlete. I know Ke’Bryan is champing at the bit to get back, but we want to make sure that he’s right for the long haul,” Tomczyk said, adding that Hayes will require final clearance from the performance team and manager Derek Shelton before returning.

“This is an injury situation where Ke’Bryan’s gonna have to regain that confidence that he can be Ke’Bryan on the field. It’s hard enough for any veteran to do that, coming off an injury, let alone a young, very, very talented player such as Ke’Bryan. We want him to feel confident for the remainder of the season and not just make this a short-term game.”

In other Pirates injury news:

• Left-handed pitcher Steven Brault (lat strain) is working with range of motion and strength and conditioning in Bradenton, Fla., and Tomczyk said the Pirates are “encouraged by his progress.”

• Right-handed reliever Blake Cederlind, who had Tommy John surgery two weeks ago, has initiated his rehabilitation in Bradenton with the performance team and physical therapists.

• Left-handed reliever Austin Davis (elbow) threw an all-pitch side session earlier this week and is projected to throw a live batting practice later this week.

• Right-hander Jose Soriano, the Rule 5 Draft pick who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is throwing simulated games in Bradenton.

• Right-hander Cody Ponce (forearm) is scheduled to throw a multi-inning simulated game this week.