Yankees injury Latest on Hamilton, Dominguez, Rizzo, Effros, and others on IL

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The Yankees’ pitching staff took a double hit Tuesday, with right-handers Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet landing on the IL. Hamilton, sidelined by a moderate right lat strain, will be out for three to four weeks, while Poteet, dealing with a right triceps strain, faces a one- to two-week shutdown.

In response, the Yankees recalled lefty Clayton Andrews from Triple-A and signed left-hander Anthony Misiewicz to a major league contract. To make room for Misiewicz on the 40-man roster, Clarke Schmidt was moved to the 60-day IL due to a right lat strain. The sudden loss of Hamilton and Poteet, coupled with Holmes’ recent struggles, leaves the Yankees scrambling to bolster their pitching depth as they navigate a challenging stretch of the season.

Hamilton, a key reliever for the Yankees last season, joined a growing list of struggling bullpen arms when he landed on the IL Tuesday. Hamilton had been ineffective in his last four outings before succumbing to injury. Bench coach Brad Ausmus, filling in for manager Aaron Boone, who was attending his son’s graduation, revealed that Hamilton felt the injury during his most recent appearance.

Ausmus also noted that the right-hander had dealt with a milder version of the same issue earlier in the season. Hamilton’s setback further compounds the Yankees’ bullpen woes as they attempt to stabilize their relief corps and maintain their position in the standings.

Despite Poteet’s strong performance filling in for the injured Schmidt, the Yankees’ rotation remains stable with Gerrit Cole set to make his season debut Wednesday after recovering from elbow inflammation.

Misiewicz, a 29-year-old left-hander, rejoins the Yankees after a brief stint with the team last September, which ended abruptly when he was struck in the head by a 100.6-mph line drive during a game in Pittsburgh. Misiewicz, who has pitched for three MLB clubs in 2023, posting a 2-0 record with a 7.36 ERA in 11 outings, appeared in three games for the Yankees, allowing three runs (one earned) over 2.2 innings.

Despite his struggles in the majors, Misiewicz has excelled in Triple-A this season, going 2-0 with a 3.23 ERA, 37 strikeouts, and 10 walks in 23 relief appearances. He was selected from Triple-A on Wednesday, and the Yankees will announce a corresponding 40-man roster move to accommodate his addition. The team still needs to make a corresponding move to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Misiewicz as they look to bolster their pitching staff for the crucial series against the Orioles.

Joining Misiewicz on the roster is Clayton Andrews, a 27-year-old left-hander who was already on the Yankees’ 40-man roster. Andrews made a brief appearance with the team in May, pitching one-third of an inning in a 6-3 home loss to the Mariners on May 21. In that outing, he faced three batters, allowing a home run, hitting a batter, and recording a strikeout. In Triple-A, Andrews has gone 1-3 with a 5.84 ERA in 20 appearances.

Rizzo is out for 8 weeks

Yankees first-baseman Anthony Rizzo has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm fracture, the team announced Tuesday. The injury occurred during a collision with Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino at first base on Sunday and is expected to sideline Rizzo for eight weeks.

Rizzo will refrain from baseball activities for at least the first four to five weeks of his recovery, but he remains optimistic about returning to the lineup this season. The fracture, located in his upper forearm near the elbow, caused Rizzo to tumble beyond the bag and immediately reach for his right wrist, remaining down for several moments after the play.

Reflecting on the incident, Rizzo expressed his surprise at the extent of his injury. “I was shocked when I found out I had suffered a fractured right forearm after a collision at first base while trying to beat out a grounder Sunday in Boston,” he said.

The loss of Rizzo, a key contributor to the Yankees’ offense, presents a significant challenge for the team as they navigate the upcoming weeks without their starting first baseman.

Anthony Rizzo expressed confidence in his ability to return this season despite being sidelined for approximately eight weeks due to a right forearm fracture. The Yankees announced that Rizzo, who turns 35 in August, will be out of game action until mid-August as he recovers from the injury.

This setback is another challenge for Rizzo, who has been plagued by injuries in each of the past two seasons. Bench coach Brad Ausmus, stepping in for manager Aaron Boone as he attended his son’s graduation Tuesday, emphasized Rizzo’s importance to the team, stating, “He’s as much a part of the character on this team as anyone. It’s a huge loss, from a clubhouse perspective, as much as on the field.”

Jasson Dominguez

In other injury news, outfielder Jasson Dominguez, one of the Yankees’ top prospects, was placed on the 7-day Minor League injured list with a left oblique issue. The team is currently awaiting the results of an MRI to determine the extent of Dominguez’s injury.

Domínguez, the Yankees’ top prospect and No. 30 in MLB Pipeline’s rankings, has returned to the injured list after feeling a tweak near his left oblique during a checked swing while playing for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that the 21-year-old outfielder was scheduled to undergo tests to determine the severity of the injury.

According to the Yankees’ announcement on Tuesday, Domínguez felt the tweak in his left side while checking a swing during his final at-bat on June 15. He has since undergone an MRI, and the team is awaiting the results, which will be reviewed by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad.

Domínguez’s setback comes at a critical point in his development as he looks to continue his progress through the Yankees’ farm system and eventually make his way to the major league roster.

Nick Burdi

Manager Aaron Boone announced on June 1 that Burdi recently received a PRP injection. He is experiencing a flare-up of an issue that had previously landed him on the injured list earlier in the season.

Clarke Schmidt may not return to Yankees rotation till August

The Yankees transferred right-hander Clarke Schmidt to the 60-day injured list on June 18, following concerning MRI results from May 29. Schmidt had reported difficulty recovering from a start in San Diego on May 26, prompting a visit to Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on May 30. Manager Aaron Boone stated that Schmidt would refrain from throwing for four to six weeks, after which he would need to gradually rebuild his stamina, a process that could take several additional weeks.

Despite the setback, Schmidt remained optimistic about his recovery timeline, expressing hope that he might be able to resume throwing in as few as three weeks, although he acknowledged this was a “soft timeline.” Schmidt noted that the injury came as a surprise, given how well his body had been feeling throughout the season. He admitted to feeling discomfort early in his bullpen session and during the game in San Diego but initially believed it would resolve on its own, as minor issues often do for pitchers throughout the course of a season.

The Yankees placed Schmidt on the 15-day injured list prior to their game on May 30, retroactive to May 27. As the team navigates the loss of a key member of their starting rotation, they will rely on their depth to fill the void until Schmidt can make a full recovery and return to the mound.

Scott Effross set for rehab on June 19

Effross is set to embark on a Minor League rehab assignment starting June 19 with Single-A Tampa, as announced by the Yankees. Over the past few weeks, he had been participating in live batting practice sessions, building significant momentum according to manager Aaron Boone. Effross appeared to be recovering well from his bullpen sessions held at the club’s complex in Tampa, Florida.

Effross is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery conducted in October 2022. In autumn 2023, he encountered back discomfort, leading to a microdiscectomy of his L-4 and L-5 vertebrae in December.

JT Brubaker to start rehab on June 19

Brubaker, acquired from the Pirates on March 29, is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on April 12, 2023. He has set his sights on returning to the majors around the All-Star break.

In pursuit of this goal, Brubaker is scheduled to start a Minor League rehab assignment with Single-A Tampa on June 19, as announced by the Yankees. He has been pitching to hitters in live batting practice sessions, including facing DJ LeMahieu, at the Yankees’ training complex in Tampa, Florida.

Everson Pereira

Manager Aaron Boone announced on June 14 that Pereira underwent reconstructive Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in early June. Pereira had been competing through the injury at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, with his last appearance for the RailRiders dating back to May 14. Boone described Pereira’s injury as “unfortunate,” likening it to Jasson Dominguez’s situation, which the organization anticipates he will recover fully from. “This isn’t something that will significantly impact his career,” Boone assured. “He is expected to return at full strength.”

Jon Berti

Jon Berti, who was moved to the 60-day injured list on June 12, is expected to undergo a recovery period of six to eight weeks following an injury sustained on May 24 while running toward first base. The Yankees initially placed Berti on the 10-day IL the day after the incident and administered a PRP injection on May 28 to aid in his healing process.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone provided an update on Berti’s status on June 12, mentioning that the infielder’s mobility had improved by the time the team departed for Kansas City on June 9. While Berti still requires additional weeks before he can resume baseball activities, Boone expressed optimism regarding his recovery.

Boone noted Berti’s improved gait, observing that he appeared nearly back to his normal self while walking down the hallway, which was encouraging for the Yankees. However, the manager acknowledged that Berti’s rehabilitation will proceed gradually and expressed hope for continued steady improvement in the upcoming weeks as he progresses towards returning to play.

Lou Trivino

Trivino developed right elbow inflammation in late April and has not resumed throwing as of June 1. Following the inflammation, Trivino consulted with Dr. Neal ElAttrache and team doctors, who conducted imaging confirming no damage to his ulnar collateral ligament. Trivino continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery performed on May 3, 2023.

Jonathan Loaisiga

On April 6, Loáisiga confirmed he has a torn UCL and will undergo season-ending surgery. Dr. Keith Meister will perform the procedure, with an estimated recovery time of 10 to 12 months. Loáisiga was placed on the 60-day injured list, retroactive to April 4, the previous day.

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