ARLINGTON, Texas — With 12 starting players on the injury list, the Yankees make headlines off the field too. Their injured players are making as many headlines as their on-field performance.
On Friday, the Yankees looked uncertain over Aaron Judge, who had a hip MRI. It came out a regular hip strain and the team is yet to decide on sending him to the injury list. He and the team were both feeling better. When asked about Judge’s injuries, it was ultimately said that it isn’t “too serious.”
After suffering injuries during spring training, both Carlos Rodon and Luis Severino are on their way to making a complete recovery. When both players were injured a month ago, the Yankees expected them to return to the rotation by late April or early May.
Harrison Bader
- What type of injury: Left oblique strain.
- Injury status: 10-day injured list since March 30 (retroactive to March 27).
- How many games were missed: 27.
- Expected return: May 8
Friday night, Harrison Bader was on the field for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In his last at-bat, he went 1-for-4 with a line single to left. His two of five rehab games were with Somerset, while the other three were with Scranton. He has 16 hits but is just 3 for 16. He will likely come off the disabled list and make his season debut with the Yankees on May 8 at home against the Athletics after playing in another full week of rehab games.
Josh Donaldson
- What type of injury: Hamstring strain
- Injury status: 10-day IL since April 8 (backdated to April 6)
- How many games were missed: 21
- Expected return: May first week
It’s possible Donaldson will get back on the baseball field any day. On April 18, he began a one-game rehab stint with Somerset, but the soreness in his hamstrings didn’t let up.
Tommy Kanhle
- What type of injury: Right biceps tendinitis
- Injury status: 15-day injured list since March 30 (backdated to March 27)
- How many games were missed: 27
- Expected return: May
Tommy Kahnle is now with the Yankees on the road and will throw a second workout on Sunday morning. On Wednesday, he made an appearance in Minneapolis. He will now have to take on batters.
Jonathan Loaisiga
- What type of injury: Right elbow inflammation
- Injury status: 15-day injured list since April 8 (backdated to April 6)
- How many games were missed: 21
- Expected return: Uncertain
After complaining of being “pretty sore” on Thursday, Loaisiga is again back at square one, awaiting the results of still more testing. For the first time since being on the disabled list, he threw from a mound. Loaisiga’s return seems unlikely even over the next several weeks.
Carlos Rodon
- What type of injury: Left forearm muscle strain, back soreness
- Injury status: 15-day injured list since March 30 (retroactive to March 27)
- How many games were missed: 27
- Expected return: May second or third week
On Friday, Rodon threw 22 pitches in a simulated game. Since he began experiencing back pain a few weeks ago, this was the first time he had done so. If nothing else happens between now and the end of June, Rodon won’t be removed from the IL. Since Rodon was shut down on March 5 following his lone spring training appearance, this would be two months later than the Yankees had hoped.
According to Aaron Boone, “It’s been slow to get better this week, but it’s getting better steadily.”
Ben Rortvedt
- What type of injury: Left shoulder surgery due to an aneurysm
- Injury status: 10-day IL since March 30 (backdated to March 27)
- How many games were missed: All so far
- Expected return: After mid-May
As of this next Saturday, Rortvedt will resume playing with Somerset. While playing for Tampa Bay from April 21st-23rd, he had a 3-for-9 hitting streak. From the IL, he will most certainly be promoted to Triple-A shortly.
Luis Severino
- What type of injury: Right lat strain
- Injury status: 15-day injured list since March 30 (backdated to March 27)
- How many games were missed: 27
- Expected return: Early June
On Friday, Severino pitched to hitters in a three-inning, 40-pitch simulated game. On Wednesday, he will either make his first start since his return or resume throwing to hitters.
Giancarlo Stanton
- What type of injury: Hamstring strain
- Injury status: 10-day IL since April 16
- How many games were missed: 12
- Expected return: After May
Since being placed on the injured list, Giancarlo Stanton has missed all baseball practices. He’s already been there for two weeks, but he’s expected to stay for at least six.
Lou Trivino
- What type of injury: Right elbow ligament strain
- Injury status: 15-day injured list since March 30 (retroactive to March 27), then 60-day injured list on April 30.
- How many games were missed: 27
- Expected return: Uncertain
After Trivino experienced more arm pain than usual after throwing to hitters as part of his rehabilitation, he stopped throwing to them altogether. On Friday, team physician Christopher Ahmad examined him. Now that he has decided to obtain a second opinion. It is likely that he will need surgery.
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