PITTSBURGH — While rehabbing his way back off the 15-day disabled list with muscle spasms, outfielder Ryan Ludwick used the time off to work on a few adjustments in his stance and swing.
“I think I quieted things down a little bit,” Ludwick said. “When you have time away from the game you can kind of work and focus on things that you want to focus on, not worry about having to get in the game and put them into play right away. I took advantage of the 15-days I had off and got in the cage and tried to hammer some things out. I felt really good in Triple-A. Obviously, this isn’t Triple-A. I felt like I was starting to come around before I went on the DL and hopefully this little time I’ve had off transpires into better AB’s and more consistent, hard contact.”
In four games while rehabbing with Triple-A Indianapolis, Ludwick went 5-for-13 (.500 avg) with a double, home run and five RBI.
“He worked very hard, very good reports on the at-bats, the work put in and the rehab assignment,“Manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s itching to go. He wants to show us that he’s healthy. We want to see him healthy.”
The Pirates hope that the veteran can provide some spark on the offense, as he was activated off the DL on Wednesday. With Jose Tabata out for at least nine more days with a fractured left hand, Hurdle said that he will use Ludwick in right field and Alex Presley in left.
“I’m actually more comfortable in right than I am in left,” Ludwick said. “I played a lot more games in right than I have left, up until this year. For me, it’s a better comfort zone.
“It’s a little further run out there from the dugout to right,“ Ludwick joked. “But hopefully my legs are in good enough shape with being elliptical machine and treadmill as much as I was these last 15 days.”
Photo credit: Yahoo! Sports
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