The Pirates have placed slumping Gregory Polanco on the 10-day injured list with left posterior shoulder inflammation.
The move was made Saturday before the Pirates’ game with the Padres at PNC Park. Outfielder Jason Martin was recalled from Class AAA Indianapolis.
Polanco underwent surgery on the shoulder last September, then missed the first 3 ½ weeks of this season while rehabbing. The right fielder is hitting just .242/.301/.425 with six home runs in 42 games.
In his last eight games, Polanco is just 3 for 22 (.136) with 12 strikeouts. He last played Sunday against the Marlins at Miami and sat out the first three games of the current homestand.
Martin made his major-league debut April 6 and played in 17 games for the Pirates, hitting .229/.289/.286. In 45 games at Indianapolis, the 23-year-old was batting just .230/.268/.410 with five home runs and four stolen bases.
“He can move around the outfield and runs the bases aggressively,” Clint Hurdle said. “The offense is not what he wants right now, but he’s working on it and he’s shown in the past in the minor leagues that he can be a good hitter.”
Martin is unlikely to get much playing time as the Pirates already have four other outfielders on the roster: Corey Dickerson, Starling Marte, Bryan Reynolds and Melky Cabrera.
PERROTTO’S VIEW
It has been obvious for a few weeks that something is wrong with Polanco. He has been totally out of sync at the plate. Getting some at-bats on a rehab assignment at Indianapolis, whenever that occurs, could only help.
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