Pirates Anticipate Vince Velasquez Will be Activated For Next Start

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk met with members of the media to provide injury updates.

Among the players discussed was right-hander Vince Velasquez, who was placed on the 15-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Velasquez was back with the team at PNC Park on Wednesday.

The expectation is that Velasquez will travel with the team and that he will be activated off the IL and make his next start, whenever that might be, according to general manager Ben Cherington.

Cherington left it up to Derek Shelton in determining when that next outing will be.

Prior to landing on the shelf, Velasquez was a staple of the Pirates’ rotation. In seven starts, the righty was 4-3 with a 3.04 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 35.1 frames.

Velasquez recently made a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis in which he he threw 4.2 scoreless innings.

In Other News…

• Wil Crowe (right shoulder discomfort) began a pylo program and the expectation is he will start a formal throwing program early next week.
• Ji-Man Choi (left Achilles strain) has resumed most baseball activities and will join the Pirates on their upcoming road trip.
• Oneil Cruz (fractured left ankle) is in a “good spot” six-plus weeks post-surgery.
• Colin Selby (low-grade rotator cuff strain) is a couple days in to being shut down 5-7 days with Indianapolis.