Pirates ‘ Andrew McCutchen diagnosed with rib cartilage damage

Jul 12, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 12, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates have announced that star outfielder Andrew McCutchen has “an avulsion fracture involving the costochondral cartilage of the left 11th rib,” not the oblique injury that had initially been speculated.

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Pittsburgh confirmed the news in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.

“We continue to evaluate Andrew’s progress and he will remain on the active roster,” the Pirates said in the statement. “We want to take the appropriate time to make the best possible decision for Andrew and for the Pirates. We will have an additional updates as applicable.”

The good news is that McCutchen expects to recover from the cartilage injury quicker than he would have from a potential oblique injury, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Since McCutchen has yet to go to the DL, the Pirates have placed Pedro Martinez on the bereavement list and outfielder Starling Marte was activated from the seven-day concussion disabled list where he will now step in as the temporary replacement for McCutchen. 

McCutchen is currently batting .311, with 17 home runs, 67 RBI and a .411 OBS.