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Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco shags balls during batting practice, Friday, March 8, 2019, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.
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Gregory Polanco feeling good as he throws on consecutive days

Matt Freed/Post-Gazette

Gregory Polanco feeling good as he throws on consecutive days

BRADENTON, Fla. — Gregory Polanco has made significant progress as he returns to throwing after shoulder surgery.

“It was weird,” he said of when he first started throwing, in January. “It was like a kid, a little baby learning how to walk. I didn’t know how to throw.”

Polanco is now throwing from 120 feet on back-to-back days. He will throw Saturday and then take Sunday off to ensure that the torn labrum in his left (throwing) shoulder that he had surgically repaired in September remains healed.

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Polanco tore the labrum in September on an awkward slide into second base. Moving from the outside of the baseline to the inside to avoid the tag and throw, Polanco jumped and jammed his knee, causing a bone bruise, and his shoulder. The shoulder dislocated and damaged the labrum.

Pirates pitcher Jameson Taillon signs autographs during PiratesFest Saturday, March 9, 2019, at LECOM Park in Bradenton.
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Polanco does a lot of mobility work with the shoulder before and after throwing. He can hit with no restrictions. He will miss the beginning of the season but could return by May.

“Now it starts to feel natural,” he said. “Before it was weird. I didn’t have my release point, I had no consistency, because it as tight. It was pretty tight. Now is feel natural. I’ve just got to get it stronger. Now I’m getting the spin, feeling better.”

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

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First Published: March 9, 2019, 4:05 p.m.

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Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco shags balls during batting practice, Friday, March 8, 2019, at LECOM Park in Bradenton, Fla.  (Matt Freed/Post-Gazette)
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