The Pittsburgh Pirates are still hoping to get Jung Ho Kang back sooner rather than later.

Kang is stuck in Korea, thus far unable to get clearance to travel after a third driving-under-the-influence conviction, and faces a possible suspension from Major League Baseball when he is back in uniform.

The Pirates have sent Kang a pitching machine that is a cross between the Japanese-made Shizuoka Prefecture and the programmable e-Hack Attack, which throws American-style pitches.

"We're trying to get him a machine with velocity and spin, to help," Clint Hurdle said. "He's been more working indoors, doing everything he can to prepare. But in here, we're moving on until he's back."

Pittsburgh has used David Freese to fill in for Kang at third. Freese is hitting .344/.488/.594 in 11 games.