BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett is expected to miss two to three months while recovering from surgery for a facial fracture.
The Pirates say Burnett had surgery Friday in Pittsburgh. Burnett broke the orbital bone near his right eye when he fouled a ball off his face Wednesday in a bunting drill. The Pirates say the injury didn’t affect Burnett’s vision.
Pittsburgh had expected Burnett to be its opening day starter. The Pirates got the 35-year-old right-hander last month from the New York Yankees.
Pirates general manager Neal Huntington says Burnett will return to spring training while recovering.
