Oviedo's setback deals blow to Bucs' rotation picture

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Johan Oviedo suffered a setback after his last live batting practice, resulting in him being placed on the 60-day injured list on Monday with an injury to the right lat muscle. After consulting with Dr. Keith Meister, the surgeon who performed his Tommy John surgery, Oviedo's return to the mound is going to be delayed, and he will be in a holding pattern for almost a month.

Oviedo is not throwing and will get new imaging done on his right lat and arm in four weeks. When that is done in late March or early April, the team will reconvene with Meister to map out his return to throwing. At the moment, the goal is to aim for Oviedo to start using plyo balls in about six weeks, which is the early phases of a throwing program.

“Very unfortunate for Johan,” senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said at LECOM Park on Wednesday. “Very frustrating for all of us, 'cause he's worked his tail off with the elbow rehab. On a positive note, the elbow feels really good. It's strong, it's ready to go. This is just an unfortunate setback in his return from that surgery with this most recent right lat injury."

Oviedo is working back from a Tommy John procedure on his right elbow in December 2023.

The Pirates do have more starting pitching depth this spring than they have had in years past, including three prospects who should be on the radar this season: Top prospect Bubba Chandler, No. 3 prospect Thomas Harrington and No. 6 prospect Braxton Ashcraft. They also have experimented with the idea of stretching out relievers Caleb Ferguson and Carmen Mlodzinski this spring, giving them more options for either a starter, a long reliever or a swingman who could do both, like Luis Ortiz did last season. And with Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, Jared Jones and Bailey Falter returning, plus the addition of veteran starter Andrew Heaney last month, the Pirates still have a solid starting five.

But losing Oviedo for a longer period of time than originally hoped for is a blow for this rotation. He established himself as a quality big league starter in 2023 and had been making great strides to return in early 2025. That return is going to have to be delayed.

? First baseman Spencer Horwitz is continuing to progress back from his right wrist surgery, fielding ground balls and starting dry swings. He should start throwing next week and should start hitting off a tee either this weekend or early next week.

All are encouraging signs, but it still looks doubtful that Horwitz will be ready for Opening Day.

“Not completely out of the picture, but [after] three weeks, he's just dry-swinging,” Tomczyk said. “He's just picking up the bat now. I think that's not a specific goal we're aiming and pushing him for. But as of right now, it shouldn't be too much longer."

? Hunter Stratton is slated to throw a simulated game at Pirate City on Wednesday, another milestone as he continues to work back from his surgery to repair the ruptured patella tendon in his left knee. He threw his first live batting practice last week, and while he’s still yet to do throwing or fielding drills, his knee is continuing to get better.

"He's still building back up the conditioning explosiveness, but he continues to meet all the demands of the rehab,” Tomczyk said. “He actually had an extra test that Dr. [Darren] Frank, the surgeon on record, recommended. Biodex testing. And that, he just crushed the numbers. I mean, they were off the charts. And that specifically measures the balance between hamstring and quadricep strength, and the numbers were off the charts. So, he continues to dominate the rehab. Really, really, really happy to just see him back out there and compete."