Yankees’ key offensive asset Harrison Bader to return soon

The New York Yankees are set to welcome outfielder Harrison Bader back to the team following his injury earlier this season. According to Bryan Hoch, he will be with the Yankees by May 5. Bader has been on the disabled list since the start of the season after suffering an oblique injury during spring training. However, the outfielder has been working hard to make his return, and the team is now confident that he will be ready to rejoin the lineup in the near future.

Harrison Bader’s return will be a welcome boost for the Yankees, who have struggled with injuries this season. The 27-year-old is a talented outfielder who is known for his speed and defensive ability. He is also a solid hitter who can contribute to the team’s offense.

Aaron Boone said Harrison Bader won’t be ready to join them on this road trip since he needs to build to back-to-back 9 inning games and get at-bats.

Seems like the target could be May 5 at Tropicana Field.

— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) April 24, 2023

Harrison Bader is working hard

He has been working hard to rehab his injury and get back on the field. Harrison Bader has been taking batting practice and participating in fielding drills, and he is now ready to start playing in rehab games. The outfielder began his rehab assignment with the Double-A Somerset Patriots.

He went 1 for 3 at the plate on Friday and is very focused on what’s going on right now. He isn’t thinking about his past of injuries, how strong he was in the playoffs last fall, or when he’ll be back in pinstripes. He is taking this step by step, day by day.

On defense, the outfielder moved quickly and showed off his strong arm with a long throw to third base after making a catch in the left-center gap. Harrison Bader also did some damage on offense. In his third and last at-bat of the game, he hit an RBI double into the corner of left field.

The Yankees have now promoted him to Triple-A RailRiders.

Yankees are cautious but need him fast

Harrison Bader’s rehab assignment is expected to last for several games, and the Yankees will closely monitor his progress to ensure that he is fully healthy before he returns to the major league roster. Once Bader is ready to return, the team will need to make a corresponding roster move to clear a spot for him on the active roster.

“I feel good,” Harrison Bader said. “I’ve checked off all the boxes in the rehab process to get back on the field and play. I’m looking forward to just going out there and getting my game ready to go help the team in the Bronx win some baseball games.”

The Yankees want to bring the 28-year-old back slowly. Manager Aaron Boone said that the team wants to see Harrison Bader play back-to-back nine-inning games before putting him on the active roster.

Harrison Bader taking batting practice. He’s nearing a return to the Yankees lineup. pic.twitter.com/8fPgM57XWk

— 7️⃣7️⃣ WABC Sports (@77wabcsports) April 19, 2023

Boone said that Harrison Bader is not likely to join the big league team for its upcoming games against the Rangers (April 27–30) or the Guardians (May 1–3). Early plans show that the set against the Rays at Tropicana Field from May 5 to 7 could be on.

The Yankees are hopeful that Harrison Bader’s return will provide a much-needed boost to the team’s offense and defense. The team has struggled with injuries this season, particularly in the outfield, and Bader’s return will give the team more depth and flexibility in the lineup.

“Any time you get a chance to put on a uniform, whether it’s in Double-A, Triple-A, or the Major Leagues, you’re just really fortunate,” Bader said. “I’m just thankful to be surrounded by people that helped me get better and get back on the field.”

Hopes are high from Harrison Bader

The Yankees acquired Harrison Bader in a trade with the St. Louis Cardinals earlier this year. The outfielder played in 110 games for the Cardinals last season, hitting .208 with 12 home runs and 26 RBIs. Harrison Bader has shown potential to be a key player for the Yankees, and the team is eager to see what he can do once he returns to the lineup.

But the Yankees’ medical staff was sure that Harrison Bader would be fine in September and for the playoffs, which is exactly what happened.

Harrison Bader hit .333/.429/.833 (10-for-30) with eight runs, five homers, and six RBIs in the playoffs. He joined Reggie Jackson (five HRs in 1977), Bernie Williams (six HRs in 1996), Alex Rodriguez (six HRs in 2009), and Giancarlo Stanton (six HRs in 2020) as the only Yankees to hit at least five homers in a single postseason.

“I was just playing my game, was really comfortable in my surroundings and really comfortable with my teammates,” Bader said. “I was in a position where I was really healthy. When you pair those things together, you go out there and you kind of relax and just play your game. I’m certainly capable of playing good baseball. It really just comes back to getting to that point where you’re confident in every aspect of your game.”

The Yankees are eagerly anticipating the return of Harrison Bader to their roster following his injury earlier this season. He has been working hard to rehab his injury and is now ready to start playing in rehab games. The team is hopeful that Harrison Bader’s return will provide a boost to the team’s offense and defense, and they will closely monitor his progress during his rehab assignment.

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