Monday, February 24, 2025, 5:39PM |  48°
MENU
Advertisement
Rehabbing right-hander Charlie Morton should be back in a Pirates uniform after his next start at Class AAA.
1
MORE

Pirates notebook: Charlie Morton eyes comeback

Peter Diana/Post-Gazette

Pirates notebook: Charlie Morton eyes comeback

CHICAGO — Some of the mechanical changes Charlie Morton wanted to make were on his to-do list for a while. Others resulted from the torn labrum in his right hip, which affected him last season in the form of pain in his butt, hip and groin.

After a month and a half of rehabilitation and targeted work on his mechanics, Morton is almost ready to return to the majors. He will make one more rehab start, Tuesday with Class AAA Indianapolis, before rejoining the Pirates.

“Fortunately — unfortunately — I was given the opportunity to go down and just work on mechanics,” Morton said.

Advertisement

Morton started the season on the disabled list as he polished his delivery after offseason hip surgery. He said he felt good in his rehab start Thursday, when he allowed two runs, one earned, and 11 hits in seven innings.

Neil Walker avoids a sliding Anthony Rizzo in the third inning Saturday in Chicago.
Bill Brink
Pirates fall to Cubs, Lester

“If I keep the ball down below the belt, I’ll get pretty good results,” he said. “That’s really what I’m going to focus on.”

Morton has attempted to keep his weight over his back leg during his delivery and prevent his left arm from “swimming,” or pulling back like a freestyle stroke when he throws. After attempting to shorten his arm action, though, Morton has lengthened it again, realizing it wasn’t working.

“I had considerable amount of repetitions throwing like that, doing it all offseason,” he said. “That was hard to do and it was hard to try to make those adjustments.”

Advertisement

Pain resulting from the torn labrum prevented Morton from fully opening his hips, he said, which meant more of his energy went toward third base rather than the plate. That led to the swimming motion as compensation, and he wants to keep his front side closed longer.

Extra arm added

Needing to reinforce an overworked bullpen, the Pirates called up right-hander Wilfredo Boscan from Class AAA Indianapolis.

Boscan, 25, was in the Indianapolis rotation. He will aid a Pirates bullpen that pitched 7⅔ innings in Friday’s 12-inning game, which the Pirates lost, 11-10, to the Chicago Cubs.

Neil Walker steps on second base to complete a triple play that was the first of its kind May 9 against the Cardinals at PNC Park.
Stephen J. Nesbitt
On The Pirates: Neil Walker's triple-play ball elusive

To make room for Boscan, the Pirates optioned Steve Lombardozzi to Indianapolis. They transferred right-hander Brandon Cumpton, who will miss the season because of Tommy John ligament replacement surgery, to the 60-day disabled list to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

In 31⅓ innings spread throughout six starts this season, Boscan had a 2.87 ERA, 20 strikeouts and 11 walks. He relies on his two-seam fastball and changeup. The Pirates signed him to a minor league contract with a spring training invite in January.

“I try to throw my fastball down and my breaking ball, too,” Boscan said of his success thus far.

Boscan has never pitched in the majors. He spent eight of his nine minor league seasons with the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox organizations.

Bill Brink: bbrink@post-gazette.com and Twitter @BrinkPG.

First Published: May 17, 2015, 4:00 a.m.

RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
President Donald Trump speaks at the Governors Working Session in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
1
opinion
Bruce Ledewitz: The Supreme Court will step up and Trump will back down
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden catches a pass against Ohio State during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.
2
sports
Which positions are strong and weak at NFL combine? And how will Steelers approach this draft?
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (27) intercepts a pass during a failed two-point conversion by the Kansas City Chiefs at Acrisure Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in the North Shore. The Kansas City Chiefs won 29-10.
3
sports
Brian Batko's Steelers chat: 02.24.25
A hat signed by President Donald Trump for Rachel Powell, with a note that reads, “Rachel, we love you,” at her cabin on the outskirts of Grove City, Pa., Feb. 4, 2025, Feb. 4, 2025. Powell is one of hundreds of prisoners granted amnesty for their role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as President Donald Trump has sought to alter the record of that day, but her life, like her nation, is deeply changed. ()
4
news
Pardoned for Jan. 6, 'Pink Hat Lady' came home to a new reality in Western Pa.
La Grassa Pizza is now offering four-cut, late-night pies at The Vandal on Saturday nights.
5
life
Pittsburgh pizza news: La Grassa’s late-night pies and a big win for Mercurio’s
Rehabbing right-hander Charlie Morton should be back in a Pirates uniform after his next start at Class AAA.  (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST sports
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story