Injured Pirates starter Martin Perez 'pain-free,' continues rehab of groin strain

In a batch of injury injury news pertinent to the starting rotation, Pittsburgh Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk revealed that lefty Martin Perez is “pain free” and will begin throwing from a slope soon, likely this weekend with the Minnesota Twins visiting PNC Park.

Perez has been sidelined since the end of May with a left groin strain.

Quinn Priester, out with a right lat muscle strain, is “asymptomatic at rest” and is responding well to treatment. He is not currently throwing, with the Pirates planning to reevaluate his path to clearance in the next five to seven days.

Lefty reliever Ryan Borucki saw his season derailed almost as soon as it began, as he made only four appearances before landing on the injured list in April because of triceps inflammation in his throwing arm.

Marco Gonzales had a similar unfortunate beginning to the year, with a left forearm muscle strain sending him to the injured list in mid-April after just three starts.

Borucki and Gonzales were transferred from the 15- to 60-day injured list in June, but the good news, relayed by Tomczyk, is that the Pirates expect to have both back and pitching for the club again before year’s end.

When exactly that will be remains to be seen, but both are nearing the point in their respective rehabilitations when throwing off a slope, as opposed to on flat ground, will begin to be incorporated.

Additionally, the Pirates received more clarity on catcher Joey Bart’s thumb ailment, which has kep him out of the lineup since the end of May.

“Joey Bart’s injury to his left thumb has been diagnosed as a Grade 1 UCL ligament sprain. He is recommended no (baseball) gripping activities for approximately two weeks. We’re halfway through that and envision reassessing for gripping activities early next week.”

• Infielder Alika Williams (right wrist sprain) is expected to resume light baseball activities later this week.

• Utility speedster Ji Hwan Bae (right wrist sprain, but a different injury than Williams’, per Tomczyk) is not cleared to grip a baseball for the next 10-14 days. The Pirates will re-assess his status after that point.

• Pitchers Johan Oviedo and Dauri Moreta plus catcher Endy Rodriguez all continue to recover from Tommy John surgery. Oviedo is throwing from 75 feet, while Moreta is now 11 weeks post-operation and focusing on regaining his range of motion. Rodriguez is throwing from 75 feet and hitting from the left side of the plate in coaches’ batting practice sessions.

Note: Outfielder Michael A. Taylor was reinstated from the paternity list ahead of Friday’s game. Infielder Liover Peguero was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.