Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Friday that Pineda (finger) is now dealing with a left oblique strain, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Pineda began a minor-league rehab assignment last week with High-A Wilmington, but he'll be shut down again for at least the next couple of weeks. The 23-year-old catcher originally landed on the injured list in March due to a fractured right pinkie finger.
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Nationals' Israel Pineda: Set for rehab games
Rotowire
Pineda (finger) was cleared Tuesday to begin a rehab assignment with High-A Wilmington, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.
Pineda was placed on the major-league injured list just before Opening Day after suffering a fractured finger on his right hand during spring training. He'll probably be stationed at Triple-A Rochester whenever he's deemed fully healthy, with Keibert Ruiz and Riley Adams remaining up as the catching tandem in Washington.
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Nationals' Israel Pineda: Won't open in big leagues
Rotowire
Pineda (finger) won't break camp with the Nationals and will instead remain at the organization's extended spring training in Florida to begin the season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.
Since the Nationals are likely keen on giving the 22-year-old backstop regular playing time, Pineda never seemed to be a good bet to be included on the Opening Day roster while Keibert Ruiz is installed as the big club's clear No. 1 catcher. The displaced right pinkie finger that Pineda suffered in early March essentially ended any small hope he might have had of joining the Nationals for Opening Day, so it's no surprise that he'll continue to conduct his rehab in Florida before likely reporting to Triple-A Rochester. Washington has yet to announce whether Pineda will be formally optioned to Triple-A or placed on the big club's 10-day injured list.
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Nationals' Israel Pineda: Catches bullpen session
Rotowire
Pineda (finger) was spotted catching Patrick Corbin's bullpen session Wednesday at Nationals camp, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.
Pineda hasn't played in any Grapefruit League games since March 4 while he recovers from a right pinkie finger displacement, but the Nationals haven't shut him down from baseball activities. However, Pineda has yet to resume hitting and appeared to be tossing the ball lightly back to Corbin during the bullpen session, so the catcher doesn't look as though he's fully moved past the injury. Expect Washington to option Pineda to Triple-A Rochester in the coming days.
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Nationals' Israel Pineda: Still not cleared to throw
Rotowire
Pineda (finger) has yet to be cleared to throw, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
Pineda is able to do all other baseball-related activities as he recovers from a displacement at the tip of his right pinky finger. It's not clear if he'll be ready in time for Opening Day, but he's not going to make the Nationals' roster, anyway.
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Nationals' Israel Pineda: Picks up hand injury
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Pineda will undergo X-rays after being struck by a pitch on the hand in Saturday's spring game, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.
The tests figure to reveal whether or not Pineda will miss any time with the injury. His status will be updated again when more information is released.
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Nationals' Israel Pineda: Gets spot in roster pool
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The Nationals added Pineda to their 60-man roster pool Sunday, David Driver of the Harrisonburg Daily News-Record reports.
The 20-year-old backstop spent most of the 2019 campaign at Low-A Hagerstown, slashing .217/.278/.305 over 411 plate appearances. He's not considered a major prospect in Washington's farm system and is likely just joining the roster pool to provide the organization with some extra depth behind the plate during simulated games at the team's alternate training site in Fredericksburg.
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Nationals' Israel Pineda: Finding footing at Low-A
Rotowire
Pineda went 2-for-4 with two walks, two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI for Low-A Hagerstown on Friday.
The 19-year-old collected just one hit in his first 16 at-bats to begin the season but has started to find a rhythm at the plate, going 9-for-34 (.265) with a homer and five RBI over his last nine games. Pineda is a long way from the majors, but after a solid debut in the NY-Penn League last year, another strong campaign could have him moving up prospect lists quickly.
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Nationals' Israel Pineda: Set for breakout season
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Pindea will open the year with Low-A Hagerstown, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports.
One of the top catching prospects who has yet to make his full-season debut, Pineda could be primed for a breakout year. He just turned 19, but hit .273/.341/.388 (118 wRC+) with four home runs last year in short-season ball, so he is much more advanced at the plate than most of his peers at the position.
