Injury News: Travis Swaggerty dislocates shoulder, Nick Gonzales breaks pinky

The Pittsburgh Pirates got some bad injury news yesterday, when promising prospect Travis Swaggerty was diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder, according to the Post-Gazette. The number nine rated prospect on our Minor Matters list got injured last week sliding back to first base on a pickoff attempt. We’ve been waiting since then for an official update, and team Sports Medicine Director Todd Tomcyzk was the bearer of bad news about Swaggerty’s status yesterday.

The team is considering both surgery and rehab for Swaggerty, and the way forward has yet to be officially determined, though this does potentially put his season in danger.

Swaggerty was expected to be called up at some point this season, especially as the losses continue to pile up for the Buccos, but that’s now going to depend on his health moving forward.

Swaggerty was batting .220 at Indianapolis Triple-A East to go along with 3 home runs and 7 RBIs in 12 games played.

In other bad news for the Buccos, number two prospect Nick Gonzales is expected to miss four to six weeks with a fractured bone in his pinky finger. Gonzalez also was hurt last week, and with the official diagnosis, it’s another blow to the team’s group of youngsters, which also includes the injury to Ke’Bryan Hayes.

Gonzales, who is Pittsburgh’s number two prospect, was batting .294 at Greensboro in High-A East to go along with 2 homers and 5 RBIs.

As for Hayes, he’s played three games at Indianapolis on a rehab assignment and is batting .333 there with a homer and 2 RBIs. He’s still on track for an early June return.

Get well soon, fellas.