Wilson progressing slowly

Pirates manager John Russell said during his pre-game meeting with reporters that shortstop Jack Wilson is progressing slowly in his rehabilitation in Bradenton, Fla.

Wilson, on the disabled list since April 4 with a strained left calf, is "feeling a little better every day" according to Russell and that the stiffness in the calf is lessening a little each day.

Russell said Wilson probably won't go out to play minor-league games until "mid to late next week." He will do so in either Class AA Altoona or Class AAA Indianapolis.

As of right now, Wilson is still only taking batting practice off the coaching staff. Russell cautioned that the organization doesn't want Wilson to come back too quickly for fear he might aggravate the injury.

"We'll see how it goes before we get him actual at bats," Russell said. "We don't want him coming out of the box too quickly and straining it a little bit."

Assuming Wilson plays in minor-league games late next week, that would likely put his return to the major-league club at around the beginning of the next homestand, May 6, against San Francisco.