Pirates Reliever Neftali Feliz (Arm) Won’t Return This Season

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Neftali Feliz will not pitch again in 2016 due to an arm injury, per Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.

Feliz was just recently cleared by doctors to throw off flat ground, leaving several steps to go in his rehab.

Antonio Bastardo is expected to serve as Feliz’s replacement in Pittsburgh setup role, as things have just not improved for Feliz since a 36-pitch bullpen session a few weeks ago.

Feliz is currently 2nd in MLB in holds with 30, only trailing Addison Reed of the New York Mets.

2016 was a resurgent season for the 28-year-old Feliz in his first season as a Pirate. Feliz posted a 3.52 earned run average with 61 strikeouts over 53.2 innings of work. Feliz’s ground ball rate was at about the same mark that it was in his first couple of seasons with the Rangers.

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