The woes of the 2019 season have not been able to be lifted off the New York Yankees when it comes to suffering injury after injury to essential players on this team. Ethan Semendinger looks at the news on each of the 10 players currently the Injured List.
Luis Severino (SP):
Injury: Partially torn right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL)
Timetable for Return: Early 2021 Season
There have been a few updates on Luis Severino after he originally complained of forearm soreness in the middle of February, which shut down his pitching activities and ultimately placed him in line for Tommy John Surgery (TJS). The surgery happened later in the month- they also removed a piece of bone- and while there appears to be a recent update in July, it was just the official move for Severino to the 60-Day IL when the season began.
#Yankees announce that Luis Severino underwent Tommy John surgery performed by Dr. David Altchek at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York. The surgery went as planned. Additionally, an existing bone chip in his right elbow was removed during the procedure. — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) February 28, 2020
Tommy Kahnle (RP):
Injury: Damage to the right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL)
Timetable for Return: Mid-2021 Season
Tommy Kahnle was the first player after the season restarted to get hurt for the Yankees this year, expressing forearm tightness in the first week of the 2020 season. He was quickly sent for an MRI and it was determined that TJS would be the best thing for him. Luckily, the operation went as planned and featured no other notes of importance.
2021 will be his final year before he reaches free agency for the first time, and it will be interesting to see how the arbitration case and his contract may be negotiated.
On Tuesday, RHP Tommy Kahnle underwent “Tommy John” surgery. The procedure was performed by Dr. Christopher Ahmad at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. The procedure went as expected. — New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 5, 2020
Kyle Higashioka (C):
Injury: Right oblique strain
Timetable for Return: No Timetable Set
This may be the saddest storyline of this season for a Yankees player this season. After 13 years (he was drafted in 2008 out of High School) with the Yankees organization, Kyle Higashioka was finally able to break onto the roster as the back-up catcher. After making the MLB first in 2017 and having small stints over the next 2 seasons, he made it into just 3 games this season before he had a strain to his right oblique.
Unfortunately, as Higashioka is a pretty minor name, there are no updates on his timetable or intensity of the strain. If minor, he could potentially return shortly, if severe then his season may be done.
Good time to mention that Aaron Boone gave this update on Kyle Higashioka (oblique): “He’s not going to be coming off anytime real soon here, but it is going well and he continues to ramp up from a from a workload standpoint. But nothing imminent right now.” — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) August 19, 2020
Giancarlo Stanton (OF/DH):
Injury: Left hamstring strain
Timetable for Return: Hopefully mid-September
There is no ignoring that Giancarlo Stanton is an injury-prone player. While he managed a full 2017 and 2018 season (although after 2018 he did express that he played through some discomfort), this is who he is.
However, it would appear that this seasons injury (barring no additional ailments) should get him back into the game soon. He has a categorized grade 1 strain, which features a 3-4 week recovery timetable. That places him set to return in the middle of September.
Giancarlo Stanton has a grade 1 hamstring strain, the least serious. Normal estimate is 3-4 weeks for such an injury. — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 11, 2020
Aaron Judge (RF):
Injury: Lower body tightness
Timetable for Return: Likely this week
Depending on who you talk to, it would appear that the Yankees either jumped the gun or were being overly cautious during Aaron Judge’s latest IL stint with “lower body tightness”. Regardless, it was incredibly annoying hearing how the story about his removal and subsequent absence from the lineup progressed before they moved him to the IL.
The good news is though, that it would appear Judge could be slatted to return as soon as his time on the IL is over. With a New York Met player testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday and the cancellation of tonight’s game (and likely the series), this could also be a benefit to the Yankees and Judge as there is no rush if the next game is against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.
Aaron Judge (right calf strain) is receiving treatment & will incorporate lower body workouts with hopes of re-introducing baseball activities on Monday. “He’s feeling pretty good,” Aaron Boone said. “We’re hoping that this goes well and is a short amount of time.” — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) August 15, 2020
DJ LeMahieu (2B):
Injury: Left thumb sprain with inflammation
Timetable for Return: Hopefully early-September
With many injuries it is hard to get a good timetable for return as each player will respond and heal differently. Luckily, we have a very good idea about LeMahieu’s return as he suffered this same sprain back in 2018 with the Colorado Rockies. With that thumg sprain it took DJ out from May 14th to June 1st, if we follow that same timetable, he should return (around) the first weekend in September.
One big question upon his return is if he will be able to get enough at-bats (and hits) to continue to contend for the American League batting title this season.
Yankees were told no ligament damage to DJ LeMahieu’s thumb, just a sprain with inflammation. No fracture either. Hope is he is back in 2-3 week range. — Sweeny Murti (@YankeesWFAN) August 17, 2020
Gleyber Torres (SS):
Injury: Left hamstring tightness
Timetable for Return: Up in the Air
Back in late September of last season, Gleyber Torres was pulled during a game against the Toronto Blue Jays for an injury that required sending him for an MRI on his right hamstring. Luckily it came back negative, but there have been concerns about Torres’s lower half in the past.
Yesterday’s left hamstring tightness is new and very little has been announced about it as imaging was likely done last night. Depending on what the MRI shows will determine if this is a day-to-day rest situation or an IL stint is needed. Like with Judge, the cancellation of the game tonight (and maybe the series) will play favorably if this is a best-case scenario.
Gleyber Torres (hamstring) is icing now. Aaron Boone said that “he seems to think it’s a little tight,” but they will send him for imaging. — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) August 20, 2020
5:30 PM UPDATE: Gleyber Torres has now landed on the IL for Grade 1 strains of both the left quadricep and the left hamstring. (See Tweet under 5:30 PM Update, below)
Zack Britton (RP):
Injury: Left hamstring strain
Timetable for Return: TBD
Apparently sustained during a run to cover first base during his most recent outing on August 19th. He was sent for imaging alongside Gleyber Torres and his results quickly indicated that a 10-Day IL-stint was necessary.
At this time, there is no additional information on what type (or grade) strain Britton suffered, which sets a wide range of expectations for a return to baseball activities from a few weeks to a few months.
Aaron Boone said there is some injury concern with Zack Britton, who grabbed his leg before exiting. “We’re looking at him right now.” — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) August 20, 2020
James Paxton (SP):
Injury: Strained flexor
Timetable for Return: TBD
After yesterday’s start James Paxton alerted the team that he felt discomfort in his elbow and forearm and was sent for an MRI. As with Torres, the results have not yet been indicated to the media about the severity of the injury, although many are speculating that an IL stint is forthcoming.
Paxton official diagnosis: strained flexor. Still, a likely IL situation — Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) August 21, 2020
5:30 PM Update: James Paxton has now landed on the IL with a Grade 1 strain in his left forearm flexor. Luckily, TJS was not recommended.
5:30 PM Update:
The Yankees announced via a Tweet earlier today that in addition to sending both Gleyber Torres (SS) and James Paxton (SP) to get MRI imaging done, they also sent Luis Avilan (RP).
In addition to the imaging results of Torres and Paxton (above), Avilan’s imaging reported left shoulder inflammation.
All three players have been transferred to the IL. (Specifics pending, although 10-Day IL expected for all three.)
Additionally, LHP Luis Avilán underwent an MRI on Thursday at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Imaging revealed left shoulder inflammation. All three players will be placed on the Injured List. — New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 21, 2020
Article By: Ethan Semendinger
Date Published: August 21st, 2020
