2:33pm: Bucs trainer Todd Tomczyk told reporters, including Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic (Twitter link), that it’s “inaccurate right now” to suggest Chisenhall will miss four-to-six weeks. The issue appears to be in his finger; for the time being, he’ll be shut down for ten days before being reevaluated.
10:21am: The Pittsburgh org has now announced the rest of its roster moves, as MLB.com’s Adam Berry covers (Twitter links). Jordan Lyles will also open the season with an IL stint owing to discomfort in his right side. He’ll be joined there by fellow reliever Dovydas Neverauskas, catcher Elias Diaz, corner infielder/outfielder Jose Osuna, and Polanco.
The club will indeed add Shuck, Cabrera, and lefty Francisco Liriano to the 40-man. To create roster space, righty Edgar Santana was placed on the 60-day IL while recovering from Tommy John surgery and the team designated relievers Jake Barrett and Aaron Slegers for assignment.
10:09am: Pirates outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall has been diagnosed with a broken hand, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter). He’s expected to miss four to six weeks of action to open the season. The team has also announced it’s Opening Day roster, which as expected includes veteran outfielder Melky Cabrera.
It’s a tough-luck development for the 30-year-old, who was hit by a pitch late in camp. This is hardly the way he hoped to begin an effort at a bounceback season after an injury-marred pair of seasons.
Chisenhall inked a one-year, $2.75MM deal with the Bucs over the winter. The hope was that he’d serve as the primary option in right field while Gregory Polanco is working back to full health. Instead, he’ll have to do the same before he can contribute.
To open the year, at least, Cabrera will get a run instead in the corner outfield. It seems he’ll be joined in the mix by JB Shuck, another minor-league signee who spent camp with the Pittsburgh organization, though that has yet to be announced.
Is there a more “Pirates player” than JB Shuck?
Jung Ho Kahlua?
Hahahah!! who didn’t see this happening withChisenDL ?
last place.
Reds don’t have Scooter Gennett for 2-3 months bud. Reds last place
No Scooter, or Senzel for at least 1 month, but likely more. Matt Kemp was good for two months, I wouldn’t be surprised if Melky Cabrera matched Kemp’s production this season. Who knows if Votto’s power will rebound. Alex Wood, Tanner Roark, and Sonny Gray are upgrades to the rotation, but it’s not like any of them are any sort of ace. Each have had their struggles in recent seasons. Puig was a decent pick-up, but he had a .628 OPS vs LHP last year, and has a career .757 OPS VS LHP.
Melky Cabrera has never hit 20 HR in a season. Kemp has done it 8 times. Barring any age related production drop offs or injuries, Matt should be able to do it again, playing that bandbox of a ballpark.
Hit 20 home runs again? Yea, I think he will, but he had a .719 OPS in the second half. But even in a hitter friendly ball park, I would not expect him to be anything more than a .280/.310/.450 hitter with 20-25 HRS and below average defense. Cabrera could easily match that overall production, just with a little less power.
That was predicted by some people right after he signed. Poor guy, get well soon.
I was one
The team announced “it’s” opening day roster. Really?
It’s much worse to be the guy nitpicking things like that than it is to be the guy that inadvertently adds an extra apostrophe
Nah, its much worse to be the professional writer…it’s their job to ‘get it right’.
Just because you’re a professional at something doesn’t mean you’re going to do your job 100% perfect every time.
You mean perfectly
I’d ask for a refund…
The last time I looked the Pirates are tied for first place. Let me have my one day of enjoyment
You know, Mark Sanchez has less playoff losses than Tom Brady…
How is Melky Cabrera still playing?
Because he’s still producing offensively at league-average or even slightly above, and because apparently he’s willing to play part-time at a relatively reasonable pay rate. Defensively he’s a bit of a mess, but there are far worse players out there… for instance, JB Shuck.
Vegas’ Over/Under on games played in 2019 by Chisenhall: 14
I’ll take the under.
Bucs should build for the future and give Pablo Reyes playing time over Melky.
Giant Budweiser advert right there
Is there a Pirate future
Chisenhall is a walking DL stint. This guy just cannot avoid injury.
Mark my words: he’ll suffer another injury when he’s finally able to rehab the hand which will keep him out the rest of the first half. Most likely a calf strain which he’s famous for.
I’ll take “Pirates announcements that do not surprise me at all” for $300, Alex.
Lol
I was surprised when i saw shucks spring stats. yeah just spring but pretty darn decent.
I mean, I’m not upset that Melky is our starting RF to start the year. He’s still pretty solid with the bat and a switch hitter at that, but I wish they picked up somebody who was better at fielding.
Liriano better be a LOOGY and a LOOGY only.
You mean loogie 🙂
“I was born with glass bones and paper skin. Every morning I break my legs, and every afternoon I break my arms. At night, I lie awake in agony until my heart attacks put me to sleep.”
– Probably Lonnie Chisenhall
See, the NL does have the DH
In his honor the MLB has named the new injury list Hall of Fame wing in Cooperstown “The Chisen Hall.”