Pirates' Kevin Newman injures hamstring while rehabbing groin, 'a little bit of a setback,' GM Ben Cherington says

Shortstop Kevin Newman, who has been on the injured list since April 27 with a left groin strain, injured his hamstring during a rehab assignment in Indianapolis, a situation general manager Ben Cherington labeled “a little bit of a setback.”

“It will be a little bit longer before he’s back,” Cherington said on his Sunday morning radio show on KDKA-FM. He originally was expected to miss three to five weeks with the groin injury.

Newman’s most recent injury is in a different spot than his groin, but it does not appear to be serious at this time, Cherington indicated. Newman has returned to Pittsburgh for further evaluation.

Cherington said Newman “felt something” while running out a hit with the Indians.

Newman was batting .250 in 13 games before his original injury. He was 2 for 8 for Indianapolis.

“We were really excited to see Kevin take all the work he had done in the offseason into this year,” Cherington said. “I really felt he was off to a good start.”

Rodolfo Castro has started 14 games at shortstop, including Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals, in Newman’s absence. Newman is one of two regular position players out of the lineup because of injury.

Catcher Roberto Perez, who is in his first season with the Pirates, will miss the rest of the season after undergoing hamstring surgery.

“He had quickly become a big part of this team,” Cherington said of Perez. “We have to pick up the pieces and march forward.”

In other news:

• Cherington said he is encouraged by outfielder/shortstop Oneil Cruz making improved contact at the plate in Triple-A Indianapolis. He is hitting .188, with a .635 OPS, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 34 games.

• Catcher Henry Davis, the top overall selection in last year’s draft, has a small, non-displaced fracture in his left wrist where he was hit by a pitch while playing in High-A Greensboro, Cherington said. Davis is on seven-day injured list in Double-A Altoona, but the injury is not considered serious. Cherington said Davis may have had the injury May 10 when he hit a home run in his Double-A debut.