Cruz's rehab 'plateaued,' 2023 return in doubt

This browser does not support the video element.

PITTSBURGH -- Over the course of the last couple months, the Pirates repeatedly expressed confidence that Oneil Cruz would play in Major League games sometime this season. That confidence, however, is waning.

Cruz¡¯s rehab has ¡°plateaued¡± due to general left foot soreness, per the Pirates¡¯ director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk, putting an already lengthy rehab process on hold. When asked if Cruz could still return this season, Tomczyk said, ¡°It¡¯s too tough to tell, but I think we¡¯re running out of days,¡± prior to the Pirates¡¯ 6-4 loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday at PNC Park.

This browser does not support the video element.

This marks a significant shift in tone compared to recent weeks.

On Aug. 10, the last time that Tomcyzk met with reporters, he expressed the team¡¯s collective belief that Cruz would return this season. On Aug. 6, general manager Ben Cherington said on 93.7 The Fan that "all signs point to him playing Major League games in Pittsburgh this season," adding that Cruz was more likely to return in September. Those statements were made prior to Cruz experiencing his latest setback.

In early August, Cruz, who fractured his left fibula on April 9, finally had the opportunity to begin a formal running program, one of the last boxes he needed to check before potentially starting a rehab assignment. In recent days, however, Cruz began to experience soreness in his left foot, forcing the Pirates to pause Cruz¡¯s rehab. Tomczyk noted that it¡¯s not uncommon for foot biomechanics to be negatively impacted from traumatic injury.

This browser does not support the video element.

Cruz is currently able to play catch and field grounders. Due to the team¡¯s finding regarding Cruz¡¯s biomechanics, however, Cruz¡¯s day-to-day activity is centered around plyometrics and the weight room until the soreness subsides.

"Really, what they're trying to do is get everything in sync again and everything to communicate effectively,¡± Tomcyzk said. ¡°There¡¯s so many little nooks and crannies and ligaments and muscles and tendons in that foot, with all the metatarsals, the little small bones, that if one thing is off, it's going to be a domino effect and continue to affect the other one. So, working on the mobility, working on the foot intrinsics of how it operates is the main focus.¡±

The Pirates have said that if Cruz were to return to Major League action this season, he would first require a rehab assignment, the length of which was not determined. With Triple-A Indianapolis¡¯ season ending on Sept. 24 and Cruz¡¯s rehab on pause, it seems unlikely that Cruz will have enough runway to build up to a Major League return this season.

This browser does not support the video element.

Following his surgery in April, the Pirates anticipated that Cruz would return to action in August. Cruz, however, didn¡¯t begin a formal running program until early August, let alone begin a rehab assignment. On Aug. 10, Tomczyk explained why Cruz¡¯s rehab was taking longer than initially expected.

¡°There was just a collaborative read on the medical performance team that to potentially avoid any further soft tissue injuries up or down the kinetic chain, although you can't go much further down, that we decided to take it a little bit slower,¡± Tomczyk said. ¡°So nothing happened that his body signaled he can't handle, it was more of a collaborative effort that we all got together, notably with Oneil, like, ¡®Hey look, here's where we're going to need to take this a little bit, a step differently and not rush to that projection date because we want to make sure when you come back, you're back and you feel, as a baseline, like yourself.¡¯¡±

This browser does not support the video element.

Regardless of whether Cruz returns this season, Tomczyk noted the structure of Cruz¡¯s ankle remains good and that Cruz¡¯s long-term prognosis remains encouraging. Tomczyk also said that Cruz shouldn¡¯t experience any future complications with his ankle.

¡°My word of advice to him ¡­ is to stay positive and keep going,¡± manager Derek Shelton said. ¡°When you¡¯re dealing with a significant injury like he¡¯s dealing with, it¡¯s just making sure that his spirits stay up. He continues to attack his rehab.¡±

Added Andrew McCutchen, ¡°I had an ACL injury. They told me I¡¯d be back in four to six months, and it took me a whole year to really get myself back on the field. The doctors can say whatever they want, but your body is your body. The body needs to get back. The mind needs to get back. When that happens, that happens. It¡¯s just the way it goes sometimes.¡±

This browser does not support the video element.

Cruz entered this season with high expectations, saying during Spring Training that he was shooting for a 30-30 or 40-40 season. The 24-year-old played just nine games before awkwardly crashing into White Sox catcher Seby Zavala and fracturing his fibula, a collision that perturbed Zavala and caused the benches to clear.

This browser does not support the video element.

More from MLB.com

seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com