Pirates pitcher A.J. Burnett will make a rehab start for the Curve on Saturday night at Peoples Natural Gas Field.
Burnett, coming back from an eye injury suffered during spring training, will take the mound for the 6 p.m. game against Richmond. The right-hander will be making his fourth rehab start, then is expected to rejoin the Pirates for his next appearance.
Burnett, the Bucs' biggest offseason addition, injured himself when he bunted a ball off his right eye during batting practice in spring training. The 35-year-old veteran has come back quicker than expected, although he has struggled mightily in two of his three minor league rehab starts.
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Burnett gave up just one run on two hits for high-A Bradenton on April 6, but he was blistered for eight runs - five earned - on five hits in 1 2/3 innings five days later.
Burnett started for Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday and again had his problems. He allowed five runs on seven hits, including two home runs, in four innings against Toledo. Former Curve slugger Brad Eldred hit a solo homer off him in the first inning.
- Cory Giger
