The Pirates have placed right-hander Johan Oviedo on the 60-day injured list, clearing a spot on the 40-man roster for fellow righty Justin Lawrence, whose waiver claim from the Rockies is now official.
Oviedo’s move to the IL comes as a bit of a surprise. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in November 2023, he was expected to be ready for the 2025 season, with no prior reports suggesting otherwise.
However, manager Derek Shelton told Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that Oviedo recently experienced a lat issue during a bullpen session.
With this designation, Oviedo will be sidelined for at least the first two months of the season. While IL placements can be backdated three days before Opening Day, the 60-day count doesn’t begin until then, meaning he won’t be eligible for activation until late May at the earliest.
Before this setback, Oviedo was expected to compete for a back-end rotation spot. The Pirates’ rotation is anchored by Paul Skenes, Jared Jones, and Mitch Keller, with recently signed Andrew Heaney also securing a spot. Oviedo and Bailey Falter were considered the leading candidates for the final rotation slot.
With Oviedo out, Falter may now have a clearer path to a starting role, though the Pirates are also evaluating relievers Carmen Mlodzinski and Caleb Ferguson in extended outings.
Other potential rotation options include Braxton Ashcraft and Mike Burrows, both on the 40-man roster, while prospects Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington are in camp as non-roster invitees.
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