Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Healthy and optioned to Triple-A
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Schugel (shoulder) was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list Saturday and outrighted to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Schugel, who hasn't pitched at the big-league level this season, has a 6.19 ERA in 16 innings split between Indianapolis and High-A Bradenton. Since he's not on the 40-man roster, it's unlikely that the 29-year-old will be called up in September.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Rehabbing in minors
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Schugel (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at High-A Bradenton earlier this month and has made three appearances with the affiliate, giving up three runs on five hits and no walks over 2.2 innings while striking out six.
Schugel has been on the disabled list all season while dealing with right shoulder discomfort, which he first experienced during spring training. He was able to begin a rehab assignment in mid-April, but was shut down three weeks later after suffering a setback. It seems that Schugel is feeling good again following a three-month layoff, but it seems likely that the Pirates will let him build up his arm in the minors for the next couple weeks before activating him from the DL when rosters expand in September. He's slated to shift his current assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis this week.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Prepping for simulated games
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Schugel (shoulder) is expected to resume pitching in simulated games next week, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said the team would wait and see how Schugel looks while pitching in a controlled setting before a target date for the right-hander's return is established. Since Schugel has been on the disabled list all season with right shoulder discomfort, he would likely need close to the full 30-day rehab window in the minors before being activated. Schugel doesn't appear on track to rejoin the Pirates until at least August.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Shifts to 60-day DL
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Schugel (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list Wednesday.
The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster for Tanner Anderson, whose contract was selected in a corresponding move. Schugel's timeline is unlikely to be affected, as he hasn't pitched all year and has therefore already spent the required 60 days on the disabled list. He has recently resumed his throwing program.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Resumes throwing
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Schugel (shoulder) recently resumed a throwing program and has played catch off flat ground at extended spring training four or five times, Elizabeth Bloom of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Schugel had been shut down for much of the past month after he received a platelet-rich plasma injection to address renewed soreness in his throwing shoulder. It's expected that he'll gradually expand his throwing distance over the next week before potentially returning to mound work. The right-hander has been sidelined all season with the injury and will be one of the top candidates to shift to the 60-day disabled list when the Pirates need to create room on the 40-man roster for another player.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: To remain shut down
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Schugel (shoulder) will remain shut down for another 7-to-10 days after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic Pittsburgh reports.
He opened the year on the disabled list with the shoulder injury and then experienced a setback in his recovery earlier this month. At this point the right-handed reliever can be considered out indefinitely.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Shut down with pain
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Schugel (shoulder) isn't expected to return any time soon after experiencing a recurrence of the pain which has sidelined him for all of 2018.
The righty stopped his rehabilitation program after feeling discomfort in his right shoulder. "We'll continue to put our heads together with our doctors, therapists and performance team members to help A.J. get in a position to compete at the major-league level again," trainer Todd Tomczyk said. Schugel's outlook continues to look bleak.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Pauses rehab assignment
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Schugel is experiencing shoulder soreness and will take a break from his rehab assignment, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.
Schugel has been sidelined since late February due to right shoulder discomfort. He began a throwing program in mid-March and officially embarked on a rehab assignment in mid-April, but will back off for a bit after his most recent outing with Triple-A Indianapolis on Thursday. In total, Schugel has participated in seven minor-league outings, and looked sharp for the most part prior to this setback. Expect an update on his status once he's able to restart his rehab assignment.
Schugel (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Bradenton on Thursday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic Pittsburgh reports.
Schugel has been sidelined since late February with shoulder discomfort, but it appears that he's rounding back into his pre-injury form. Given that he missed all of spring training, it wouldn't be surprising to see a rather lengthy rehab assignment, though no firm timetable for his return has been revealed at this point.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Placed on 10-day DL
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Schugel (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day disabled list Thursday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic Pittsburgh reports.
This was fully anticipated, as he has been dealing with shoulder discomfort for about a month. He is slated to serve as a middle reliever for the Pirates once healthy.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Expected to open on disabled list
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Schugel (shoulder) is likely to open the season on the disabled list, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Schugel has been sidelined with shoulder discomfort since late February. He played catch out to 120 feet Wednesday, but with just eight days remaining until the season opens, it appears unlikely that he'll be ready to go in time.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Begins throwing program
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Schugel, who hadn't thrown since injuring his right shoulder in a Grapefruit League game Feb. 25, resumed playing catch Wednesday, Lance Lysowski of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.
Schugel is out of minor-league options and isn't expected to start the season in Pittsburgh's bullpen, leaving the organization with the decision to place him on the disabled list or risk losing him to another team. The serviceable righty has appeared in 68 games over the last two years for the Pirates, compiling a 3.00 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 84 innings.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Will be reevaluated Monday
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Schugel will remain shut down until Monday after recently receiving a second opinion on his right shoulder, which confirmed an earlier diagnosis, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic Pittsburgh reports.
Pirates team doctor Patrick DeMeo previously labeled Schugel's injury as right shoulder discomfort, so the 28-year-old may have only sought the second opinion just to ensure he wasn't dealing with any structural damage. Though Schugel's injury doesn't seem to be significant, the fact that he hasn't thrown since Feb. 25 and won't get back on the mound in the immediate future makes it increasingly likely that he'll open the season on the disabled list.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Sidelined with shoulder discomfort
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Schugel remains shut down due to right shoulder discomfort, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Schugel left Sunday's spring game early due to injury, and it seems like the injury is still lingering a couple days afterward. No word has come forth regarding the severity, although it wouldn't be surprising to see him take things relatively slowly given the fact that he's dealt with shoulder injuries in the past. Schugel is competing for one of the Pirates' bullpen spots out of spring training, so he'll likely need to prove his health before he's handed a spot on the active roster.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Exits with injury Sunday
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Schugel exited Sunday's spring training game early with an apparent shoulder injury, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The specifics of Schugel's shoulder injury have not been revealed. He was visited by the team trainer at the mound and was removed from the game after a quick examination. We'll await further word from the Pirates on his condition over the coming days, though they are currently calling the injury "right shoulder discomfort," Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Increased chance of landing MLB roster spot
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Schugel's chances of breaking camp with the big-league club improved following the trade of Daniel Hudson to the Rays, Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Nothing is set in stone at this point, but this news added onto the fact that the right-hander is out of minor-league options certainly bodes well for his fate. Schugel's performance in the majors last season also gives him a strong case for a roster spot. He produced a 1.97 ERA in 32 innings pitched, although some regression should be expected given his 4.04 FIP. Schugel will have to fend off Rule 5 pick Jordan Milbrath and Josh Smoker among others to maintain his spot on the roster, but a strong spring showing could make the decision quite easy.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Tosses scoreless inning
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Schugel pitched a scoreless inning and struck out one batter during Monday's game against the Brewers.
Schugel has been outstanding of late, turning in seven straight scoreless appearances to begin September. He hasn't earned a hold in nearly a month, but Schugel could get a few more higher-leverage opportunities before the season comes to a close.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Recalled by Pirates
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Schugel was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday.
Schugel was called up to the majors earlier this season, but failed to see action while spending just one weekend with the team. This could be a similar situation, as the Pirates may be seeking to preserve some of their bullpen arms heading into the All-Star break. The right-handed reliever has racked up a 4.17 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over 36.2 innings in Triple-A this season, and is likely destined to serve in low-leverage situations.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Taxis back to Indianapolis
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Schugel was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Schugel was just called up over the weekend, but he failed to log a single appearance during his time in the big leagues. He'll head back to the minors to make room for Francisco Cervelli's (concussion) return to action, likely continuing to act as organizational pitching depth.
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Pirates' A.J. Schugel: Called up Saturday
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Schugel was promoted to Pittsburgh on Saturday, MLB.com's Adam Berry reports.
Schugel provides more depth in the bullpen for the Pirates. He's put together a 4.00 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 27 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis this season. In a corresponding move, the club optioned Tyler Glasnow down to Triple-A for the time being. Schugel made 36 appearances with Pittsburgh last season, posting a 3.63 ERA with a 46:13 K:BB in 52 innings.
