BRADENTON, Fla. — The medical staff for the Dominican Republic team expects center fielder Starling Marte, who missed the past two World Baseball Classic games with an ankle injury, will return to game activity Thursday, according to Pirates head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk.
Marte tweaked the ankle last week. He returned to go 3 for 4 with a solo home run against the United States on Saturday, then sat out the final two games of pool play.
Pirates right-hander Brandon Cumpton, on the road back from Tommy John and shoulder surgeries, threw off the slope Wednesday for the second time.