Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli left Aug. 10’s game against the San Diego Padres after suffering a wrist injury. However, he’s ready to return.
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Cervelli Active vs. Dodgers
Saturday, Aug. 13
The Pirates announced Cervelli will start Saturday against Los Angeles and bat seventh.
Cervelli Crucial to Pirates Offense, Pitching
Cervelli was a pleasant surprise for the Pirates in 2015. He had big shoes to fill, with Russell Martin leaving for the Toronto Blue Jays, and exceeded expectations. The 30-year-old batted .295 with seven home runs and 43 RBI.
FanGraphs ranked Cervelli second among qualified catchers in WAR (3.8), one spot ahead of Martin (3.5).
Despite the fact that he had played only one full season with the team, the Pirates thought enough of Cervelli to offer him a three-year extension worth $31 million.
This year hasn’t gone according to plan, however. Cervelli suffered a hand injury June 10 against the St. Louis Cardinals:
The Pirates announced he had broken a hamate bone in his left hand, which required surgery.
Since he has already missed a significant chunk of the 2016 season, it’s good to see Cervelli avoid a serious injury this time around for Pittsburgh.
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