Yankees suffer another injury scare, may lose second center fielder in 3 days

In a span of just four games, the Yankees find themselves confronted with an injury issue concerning their center fielder once again.

Following Harrison Bader’s hamstring strain and subsequent placement on the injured list after Monday’s game in Seattle, the Yankees encountered another setback as Greg Allen suffered a right hip flexor injury during their 8-4 loss to the Dodgers on Friday.

Allen, who the Yankees acquired in May after a swap deal with the Red Sox, described the sensation as a sudden tightening when he struck out in the third inning, but he experienced a similar discomfort during a check-swing in the fifth inning.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone and a trainer made a timely visit to the plate during Allen’s at-bat, but despite their intervention, Allen stayed in the game until the eighth inning when he was replaced by Willie Calhoun as a pinch hitter.

There is a possibility that Allen’s injury may necessitate a stint on the injured list, but the Yankees have indicated that they will have more information on Saturday to assess the situation further.

Allen expressed uncertainty regarding the nature of such injuries, particularly when it concerns soft tissue. The Yankees’ latest acquisition acknowledged that his speed and defensive abilities heavily rely on his legs and expressed his hope that the injury is not significant. Allen emphasized the importance of taking care of the injury and proceeding accordingly.

Peraza looking for an MLB comeback

Oswald Peraza‘s performance at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has been nothing short of exceptional. Prior to Friday’s game, he had hit an impressive 10 home runs in his last 14 games, maintaining a batting average of .371 and a remarkable 1.296 OPS during this period. In the recent 6-3 loss to Lehigh Valley, Peraza went 1-for-4, contributing to SWB’s efforts.

When Peraza was playing for the Yankees, he sprained his ankle, which put him on the injury list (IL) for a while. After he got better, he was sent to SWB as a possibility. During this time, Peraza started doing very well.

Yankees manager Boone commented that Oswald was performing exceptionally well, highlighting that he had sensed this even toward the end of spring training. Boone further noted that he had displayed a remarkable level of focus throughout this period.

Boone didn’t think Peraza’s great display would put any more pressure on Anthony Volpe, who had a .194 batting average, eight home runs, and an OPS of .631 before Friday. In the unfortunate loss against the Dodgers, Volpe struggled at the plate, going 0-for-4.

The Yankees manager expected that Anthony and Peraza mutually support each other and possess the understanding that both players have the potential to become accomplished athletes in the league for an extended period. Therefore, Boone expressed his belief that there is no such concern or tension between them.

According to Boone, Oswaldo Cabrera demonstrated great composure and resilience in response to his demotion to Triple-A on Wednesday night. The struggling utilityman was sent down by the Yankees to create space for Josh Donaldson, as he had been struggling with a batting average of .195 and a .538 OPS in 50 games.

Boone expressed his belief that it would be beneficial for him to take a step back and go down to the minors at this point. Despite acknowledging the player’s exceptional composure, level-headedness, maturity, and ability to handle challenging situations, the Yankees manager acknowledged that the player had been putting undue pressure on himself and may have been trying too hard.

Boone expressed his hope that the Yankees player would have the opportunity to receive regular at-bats, find stability, and focus on refining certain aspects of his game while in the minor leagues. Boone also emphasized that the player remains a significant contributor to the Yankees’ objectives and expressed confidence in his eventual return to the team.

Yankees’ injury update

On Friday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, Carlos Rodon had another bullpen workout, which was basically a two-inning practice.

Jonathan Loaisiga, who had surgery on May 2 to address a bone spur in his right elbow, is currently in a state of rest without engaging in any throwing activities. However, the Yankees are optimistic that he will be able to initiate a throwing program in the upcoming week.

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