This past Monday Justin Wilson called over to the bench during an appearance against the Phillies. It was reported he has left shoulder tightness. Let’s see what the updates say after his MRI and how this may effect the Yankees come Opening Day next week:
Tweets:
Justin Wilson is exiting the game with an injury. He called to the bench after his last pitch. #Yankees — Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 23, 2021
He will continue to receive treatment over the next several days before resuming a throwing program. — New York Yankees (@Yankees) March 24, 2021
Justin Wilson’s Injury History:
Justin Wilson has a pretty clean injury history outside of some 2019 IL-stints that kept him out for about 8 weeks during the season. At the end of April 2019 Wilson reported some left elbow soreness, which landed him on the IL until May 6th. Then, 5 days later (and retroactive to May 8th) Wilson went back on the IL for the same injury. This time it kept him out nearly 2 months until his return on July 2nd.
Before those two stints in 2019, there is no record of an injury history at the MLB level since 2012, and no injury history even stretching into his time in the minor leagues back in 2009.
Since then, this is also Wilson’s only injury as his 2020 season was both pretty productive as well as healthy.
How Did We Get Here?
This past Monday during the Spring Training game on March 22nd between the Yankees and the Phillies (and where the Yankees would lose 4-0), Justin Wilson was called on to pitch the 7th inning.
He allowed a Rhys Hoskins lead-off single and followed that up by allowing a Didi Gregorius 2-run Home Run. Following that, he allowed a walk to Alec Bohm and then on after a ball that brought the count to 3-2 on Odubel Herrera, he immediately called over to the bench and was removed from the game.
Luckily for the Yankees, they sent Wilson for an MRI and announced the results on Wednesday, of which there were no considerable causes for concern with the left-handed pitcher.
The resulting steps from that was to treat left shoulder tightness and prescribe an anti-inflammatory. A timetable for when he will resume pitching is not currently known and is likely not to occur before the weekend. However, there is still a good chance he starts the season with the MLB club next week.
How Does This Effect the Yankees?
Obviously, it is not a good thing for one of your solid relievers to go down with injury right before the season. For the Yankees this is even worse because they’ve already lost one great left-handed pitcher in Zack Britton (and Aroldis Chapman will miss the first two games of the season as well).
However, this could just be a temporary rest needed for Wilson, at which point it isn’t the end of the world. From what it seems like, the latter option seems to be the much more realistic option here.
If Wilson was to start the season on the IL (worst case scenario), the Yankees will likely look to Nick Nelson to temporarily take his place in the bullpen.
Article By: Ethan Semendinger
Date Published: March 25th, 2021
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