The Pirates are dealing with their first significant injury news of spring training. First-round draft pick Termarr Johnson has been shut down due to a strained right hamstring. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Johnson will be “withheld from all baseball activities for ten to fourteen days” before the team decides what to do next.
Right-handed reliever Robert Stephenson reported some “minor elbow discomfort” and Tomczyk said he will be limited to long-toss on a modified throwing program until next week, when he could throw off a mound again or have a side session.
Tomczik also reported on two pitchers returning from Tommy John surgery. Max Kranick is throwing from 60 to 75 feet four to five days a week. Blake Cederlind is throwing afternoon sessions and preparing for minor league camp.
The Pirates say a new scoreboard will greet fans at PNC Park for the home opener on April 7th against the White Sox. The display area on the new state-of-the-art scoreboard is twice the size of the old scoreboard. There is also new LED lighting on the fascia ribbon boards and a new sound system at the ballpark.
