MINNEAPOLIS — Chad Kuhl is expected to begin a throwing program when the Pirates return to PNC Park this week, and the goal is to prepare the right-handed pitcher to throw in the major leagues sometime before the end of the season.
Kuhl has been on the disabled list since July 3 after suffering a right forearm strain while pitching against the Mets at Citi Field on June 27. He's performed gripping exercises and recently began throwing weighted balls to strengthen the ligaments. Although the Pirates are running out of time, the hope is to get Kuhl ready to pitch in the majors next month, either as a starter or a reliever.
"That is the goal, to get him to have some competitive innings, " Todd Tomczyk, the team's director of sports medicine, told reporters in a conference call Wednesday morning. "Obviously we're running out of days in the calendar. Not sure, still need to sit down with the organization — Clint [Hurdle], Neal [Huntington], Ray [Searage] — [to determine] starter or reliever. But I think based on where we are in the season, the goal is to have him obviously get in a rehab assignment in the minor leagues first and then have him pitch some meaningful innings in September for the big-league club."
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