This is one outlet's own report from Yahoo Sports — the article as it was filed.
AIPROPX ReportYahoo Sports · 1h ago
Pirates Injury Updates: Hernandez Out 6-8 Weeks, Positive News on Cruz
Photo provided by Matt Lynch
PITTSBURGH — Seth Hernandez’s first professional season in the Pirates organization could very well be over due to an oblique strain that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks.
Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk informed reports on Wednesday that it could be difficult to get Hernandez back on the mound by the time the minor-league season is over.
“I don’t want to come out and say his season is over right now. But if you’re looking at the minor-league calendar, that would be a challenge to get him back into minor-league games.”
Hernandez, who was selected by the Pirates with the sixth pick in last year’s draft, has split the season between Low-A Bradenton and High-A Greensboro and is a combined 6-1 with a 2.43 ERA in 18 starts. The 20-year-old has recorded 118 strikeouts in 74 innings while limiting opponents to a .181 batting average.
The Pirates had been limiting Hernandez’s innings of late to monitor his workload. He didn’t go four innings in any of his four starts in July, which included a scheduled three-inning start in his most recent outing.
If Hernandez’s 2026 season is indeed over, the Pirates’ top prospect made quite the first impression. Hernandez was named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Month for April and represented the Pirates in the Futures Game in Philadelphia.
Tomczyk also provided updates on several other players.
Good News on Cruz
Center fielder Oneil Cruz, who is currently on the 60-day injured list with left hand fourth and fifth metacarpal non-displaced fractures, has resumed all baseball activities. The Pirates are hoping Cruz will take live at-bats later this week or early next week.
Cruz, who will surely need a rehab assignment before returning to the field for the Pirates, was in the midst of a solid season before being sidelined. In 64 games to start the season, the 27-year-old batted .264/.350/.472 with 10 doubles, 14 home runs, 44 RBI and 21 stolen bases.
Additional Updates
SS Konnor Griffin (left ring finger sagittal back injury) is about three weeks into his six weeks of immobilization and everything is healing as expected. Griffin is playing catch, doing top-handed swinging and keeping his body in shape.
LHP Evan Sisk (left elbow inflammation) is expected to begin a rehab assignment on Thursday with Triple-A Indianapolis.
1B Spencer Horwitz (concussion) is cleared from his hamstring injury but remains on the IL due to a concussion suffered while on a rehab assignment. He’s trending “in a positive direction.”
C Rafael Flores Jr. (concussion) is doing all baseball activities and is trending well.
The post Pirates Injury Updates: Hernandez Out 6-8 Weeks, Positive News on Cruz appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now .
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.
