PITTSBURGH — A series of tests performed on infielder Josh Harrison on Tuesday confirmed that the infielder did not sustain a concussion during a collision at home plate Anaheim Casey Blake Jersey on Monday. Harrison was also Clayton Kershaw Jersey given clearance to return to the field after proving he had no issue throwing or running during early work.Manager Clint Hurdle kept Harrison out of the starting lineup for the second game of a three-game series simply to give him another day to recuperate.”I’m feeling a lot better today,” Harrison said. “I’m just ready to get back out there.”That’s all good news for the Pirates, who already have an infielder on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion. Ronny Cedeno is eligible to come off on Saturday, but the Pirates may wait until after the All-Star break to give the shortstop additional time to recover. Harrison left Monday’s game after feeling dizzy while running James Loney Jersey the bases in the bottom of the third. That was one Authentic Andre Ethier Jersey inning after he collided with Astros catcher Carlos Corporan as he attempted to score from second on a two-out single. Harrison also dealt with a bloody nose right after impact.”The only thing I could feel was that my nose was a little sore,” Harrison said. “It was just a funky play. He wasn’t really blocking the back of the plate, and I was going to slide. Right as I was starting my slide, he retreated back to block it. I think I noticed it and kind of changed my body angle. That’s what caused me to go into him that way.”Players, fans alike giving Hanrahan respectPITTSBURGH — Joel Hanrahan has earned the respect of his peers, who voted him into the All-Star Game on the Authentic Casey Blake Jersey players’ ballot. He has earned the appreciation of fans, who blare “Hammer Time” in parking lots to celebrate his saves. Now he has earned the title of June’s Delivery Man of the Month, given to the best reliever in baseball each month. The awards, the admiration and even the songs have come as a result of Hanrahan’s record-breaking stint as the Pirates’ closer. He has opened the season 25-for-25 in save situations, breaking Mike Casey Blake Jersey Williams’ club record for most saves before the All-Star break. In June, Hanrahan recorded nine saves and had an ERA of 0.71. He struck out 11 batters and walked three. In nine appearances from June 7-24, he did not allow a hit.”It’s just getting lucky,” Hanrahan said of his knockout style of relief. “You need a lot of luck to be good in this game. I’ve had a lot of things go my way, and the defense has been good, too.” Dating to the end of last season, Hanrahan has 27 consecutive saves, the longest streak Authentic Clayton Kershaw Jersey in the Majors and one under the Pirates’ record. “You want the staff to feel confident in you that you can do it every time,” Hanrahan said. Fans appreciate the right-hander’s numbers. In 39 1/3 total innings, Hanrahan has a 1.37 ERA and 33 strikeouts compared to eight walks. But they also enjoy his unassuming personality. He has no reserves about painting his toenails black and yellow or donning an eyepatch for a fun Pirates video, and he knows he needs to keep working to stay perfect. “You always have to believe that you can get better,” Hanrahan said. “There’s things that I’ve done that I can do better. Once you think you’re at the top, you can get humbled real quick.”Rookie Presley feeding off Pirates’ energyPITTSBURGH — In his first PNC Park at-bat of the season on Monday, Alex Presley singled to right field and decided to try for a double. He arrived at second base before the tag, but slid Authentic James Loney Jersey over the bag and was tagged out. As he returned to the dugout, fans gave the rookie an appreciative cheer. “It was awesome they recognized that I was trying Anaheim Clayton Kershaw Jersey to play hard,” Presley said. “That’s what I do every day. It made me feel good that even though I was out, they saw what I did.”Since being called up from Andre Ethier Jersey Triple-A Indianapolis on June 27, all the outfielder has done is play hard. Entering Tuesday’s game, he was tied for third in the Majors with 12 hits since his June 28 debut. He holds a batting Authentic Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey average of .364 and an OPS of 1.027. His 12 hits include a double, two triples and a home run. “I have to do it longer than a week, but so far I’m happy with the way I’ve played,” Presley said. “I think I’ve proven that I can play up here.” Presley played 19 games with the Pirates last September after the club had been mathematically eliminated from contention. He said the energy of the clubhouse he entered this year has been completely different. “It’s real positive here. It’s a belief we’re going to win games,” Presley said. “Everybody knows what they have to do to contribute to the team. Attitude’s everything. If you think you’re not going to win, you’re probably not going to win. It’s just an aura of confidence here.”Beimel set to be activated after All-Star breakPITTSBURGH — Assuming there are no setbacks in his rehab program this week, left-hander Joe Beimel will be activated off the disabled list prior to the Pirates’ Matt Kemp Jersey Jersey July Anaheim James Loney Jersey 15 game in Houston. That will be the team’s first game after the All-Star break.Beimel had his rehab assignment moved to Altoona, where he pitched a scoreless inning for the Double-A team on Monday. He was in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and is slated to return to Altoona for another outing on Wednesday. That will be followed by appearances on Saturday and Sunday.Beimel’s last appearance with the Pirates came on May 27. He has been recovering from left elbow inflammation since.Other injury updates of note: Catcher Ryan Doumit has begun throwing and hitting in Florida, Anaheim Andre Ethier Jersey where he is rehabbing a sprained left ankle. Doumit has not begun on-field running or catching yet, though he continues to eye a late July return.
Steve Pearce (right calf strain) is also rehabbing in Florida and has been cleared to work through a running, hitting and throwing program. Pearce has not begun full baseball activities and the Pirates have not a timetable laying out his expected recovery time.
Starter Ross Ohlendorf threw a 45-pitch, three-inning simulated game at Pirate City on Monday. The Pirates are trying to get Ohlendorf stretched out before he begins an official Minor League rehab assignment, which can only last up to 30 days.
Pedro Alvarez served as the designated hitter in his first rehab game with Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday. Alvarez finished 2-for-4 with two strikeouts.Bucs bits Infielder Jarek Cunningham was named Player of the Week for the Florida State League after batting .333, with three homers and 10 RBIs last week. Cunningham leads the FSL in extra-base hits with 42. His .547 slugging percentage is third best in the league.
Teenage right-hander Luis Heredia has hardly hit a learning curve in his first taste of professional competition. Heredia, 16, has allowed one hit in his first three appearances (6 2/3 innings) for the Gulf Coast League Pirates.
Top prospect Jameson Taillon pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings in his start on Monday. Taillon, who allowed two hits in the outing, has allowed just one earned run in his past four starts (15 1/3 innings). He has struck out 20 and walked only two during that span.
The Pirates sent Minor League pitcher Cesar Valdez to the Marlins on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later. Valdez had joined the Pirates organization over the winter as a part of the team’s deal to send Zach Duke to Arizona.
