The Yankees found themselves facing two additional injury scares during their Friday night game against the Houston Astros. In the bottom of the seventh inning, second baseman Gleyber Torres was struck by a pitch on his right thumb, forcing him to leave the game. X-rays taken later revealed no breaks, with the Yankees optimistic about a potential return for Torres on Saturday night.
Earlier in the game, right fielder Juan Soto took a tumble while advancing from first to second base on a pop-up by Aaron Judge in the third inning. The mishap resulted in a twisted ankle. Although evaluated by a trainer and manager Aaron Boone, Soto opted to stay in the game. Fortunately, Soto reported improvement as the game progressed, despite initial soreness.
Meanwhile, third baseman DJ LeMahieu, who was in Tampa Bay for further testing, had an MRI scan scheduled to shed light on the extent of his right foot injury. The Yankees are hoping for good news – a simple bruise that requires minimal recovery time, rather than a more serious fracture that could sideline LeMahieu for months.
Torres takes a hit causing concerns for the Yankees
A tense moment unfolded for the Yankees in the bottom of the seventh inning during their 7-1 victory over the Astros on Friday night. Second baseman Gleyber Torres, who had earlier been hit by a 93 mph fastball on his right thumb by Astros reliever Tayler Scott, decided to leave the game despite the Yankees holding a commanding lead.
Despite showing grit by battling through the pain for half an inning, Torres ultimately made the wise decision to exit the game in the bottom of the seventh. Thankfully, X-rays later confirmed the Yankees‘ hopes – no fractures or major damage were found in his thumb. However, Torres wasn’t entirely out of the woods, as he was still experiencing some soreness after the game.
“I’m feeling a little better now,” Torres shared, expressing his optimism for a quick recovery. “Hopefully I can play [Saturday].”
The discomfort was evident even before Torres left the game. He was spotted flexing his right hand while running the bases in the top of the inning, hinting at the initial pain caused by the pitch. The Yankees will be monitoring Torres’ progress closely as they determine his availability for Saturday’s matchup.
X-ray comes clean
The key turning point came during a pitching change. While Yankees pitching coach Matt Blake visited reliever Victor Gonzalez on the mound, Torres elected to exit the field. This decision wasn’t solely driven by the physical pain. Torres explained that although he initially felt alright after being hit, his confidence in throwing accurately had waned. Fearing he might hinder first baseman Anthony Rizzo, especially in potential double-play situations, Torres prioritized the team’s success by stepping out.
His replacement, utility player Jahmai Jones, seamlessly transitioned into second base, capably handling ground balls in the following inning. The Yankees also have options like recently acquired Jon Berti or the in-form Oswaldo Cabrera to fill in at second if Torres requires further rest.
While Torres remained optimistic about a quick recovery on Friday night, he acknowledged the inherent risk and discomfort associated with being hit on the hand. Despite the lingering soreness, he found relief in the negative X-ray results, confirming no major damage.
Meanwhile, an X-ray on his thumb ruled out any injury.
Earlier in the game, the Yankees dodged another potential injury scare when outfielder Juan Soto twisted his ankle running the bases. Thankfully, Soto opted to stay in the game and expressed his intention to play on Saturday.
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