The New York Yankees are facing extraordinary challenges with injuries. Josh Donaldson suffered a thumb injury at his residence, causing a further delay in his return from a hamstring injury that has sidelined him since early April, as reported by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
Due to a hamstring injury, Josh Donaldson has been limited to participating in only five games this season. Despite nearing a potential rehabilitation period, the veteran player recently experienced a minor setback. Donaldson accidentally cut his thumb while assembling an item at his residence, which has further postponed his anticipated return to the field.
The Yankees have encountered significant misfortune with injuries in the ongoing season, with Donaldson, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge all experiencing periods of absence. Unfortunately, these circumstances are unlikely to alleviate the feeling of ill fate surrounding the team.
Josh Donaldson cuts finger at home
Donaldson sustained the latter injury on April 5 in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, and since then, he has encountered a few additional setbacks. Prior to this, he strained his hamstring while undergoing a rehabilitation assignment with the Double-A Somerset Patriots.
According to Hoch’s report, the 2015 AL MVP, Donaldson, and Giancarlo Stanton share a similar timeline for recovery. Stanton has been contending with a hamstring strain since April 15 and is said to be nearing the start of his rehabilitation assignment.
Although his playing time was limited, Donaldson faced difficulties at the beginning of the season, as he embarked on his second year with the Yankees. In a mere five games where he was stationed at third base, he struggled, posting a batting average of .125, an on-base percentage of .176, and a slugging percentage of .313. During this period, he managed to hit one home run and contribute two RBIs.
Following a challenging season, Donaldson’s performance was notably subpar, making him one of the least productive contributors in the Yankees lineup as the team progressed to the ALCS. He struggled to find his rhythm, recording a batting average of only .222, an on-base percentage of .308, and a slugging percentage of .374. Throughout the season, he managed to hit 15 home runs and accumulate 62 RBIs.
Donaldson’s performance fell well short of the Yankees’ initial expectations when they acquired him through trade in March 2022.
Considering the multitude of injuries the Yankees are currently grappling with, Donaldson’s comeback would be a highly anticipated and appreciated development, regardless of his previous lack of productivity.
Donaldson, Stanton, Carlos Rodón, Luis Severino, Jose Trevino, Frankie Montas, and several others have either experienced significant periods of absence or are expected to do so in the near future.
The New York Yankees currently hold the fourth position in the AL East standings with a record of 25-20, trailing the second-place Baltimore Orioles by a margin of 3.5 games.
The Yankees conundrum
During the previous offseason, the Yankees acquired Donaldson from the Minnesota Twins via a trade. Although he displayed strong defensive skills at third base, he encountered difficulties with his batting performance, leading to dissatisfaction among the fanbase, particularly during the playoffs.
Throughout the regular season, Donaldson’s performance encompassed a .222 batting average, a .308 on-base percentage, a .374 slugging percentage, 15 home runs, 59 runs scored, 62 RBI, 106 hits, and 148 strikeouts across 478 at-bats spanning 132 games. During the postseason, Donaldson struggled with a slash line of .172/.333/.207, contributing one run scored, five hits, seven walks, and 16 strikeouts over 29 at-bats across nine games played.
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