Morton attempts return from another major surgery
BRADENTON, Fla. — Charlie Morton knows many more medical terms than the average ballplayer, and not just because his mother is a physician.
The Pirates right-hander has undergone three major surgeries in his seven-year career, the latest to repair a torn labrum in his right hip Sept. 26. Morton had a similar operation on his left hip in 2012, not long after recovering from Tommy John elbow ligament transplant surgery that was performed in 2011.
“I understand rehabs and what goes into them,” Morton said with a smile at the Pirates’ spring training cap.
So Morton says he will be ready to take a regular turn in the Pirates’ rotation when the season begins, it can be assured the 31-year-old speaks with a confidence forged as much by experience as hope.
Morton figures to be the Pirates’ fourth starter behind a combination of left-hander Francisco Liriano and right-handers A.J. Burnett and Gerrit Cole. If manager Clint Hurdle stays on rotation, Morton would make his first start April 10 at Milwaukee.
However, because of an off day April 7, a day after the opener at Cincinnati, the Pirates could give Morton extra recovery time and a rehab start.
They could pitch the winner of the spring training competition for the fifth starter’s job — likely left-hander Jeff Locke or right-hander Vance Worley — on April 10, then start Morton two days later at Milwaukee, which would be the first time they would need a fifth starter.
If they hold Morton back two days, it would enable him to stay behind in Bradenton and pitch in a minor league spring training game before rejoining the team.
Morton pitched in pain for the majority of last season and finished 6-12 with both a 3.92 ERA and FIP in 26 starts, while making only one start after Aug. 15.
However, taking into account he is pain-free, Morton uses simple math to determine he will be ready by no later than April 12.
Morton had his other hip surgery done two weeks later than the latest one and the following season started a week earlier, yet he was ready to pitch the first time the Pirates needed a fifth starter in 2012.
“I’ve got a three-week advantage this time,” Morton said. “That’s why I don’t see any reason I won’t be ready to go when the season starts.”