To steal a line from “The Hangover Part II” …
It’s happening again.
Sure is.
Three years in a row, nonstop injuries have become a Yankees’ major storyline.
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Just on Wednesday alone, a day the Yankees were rained out, Aaron Hicks was scheduled to have surgery that may be season ending, Giancarlo Stanton’s return was delayed at least another day, Corey Kluber’s shoulder tightness turned into at least an eight-week layoff and, of the blue, Luke Voit has another significant injury.
When Kluber and Voit officially are placed the injured list on Thursday, that’ll make nine players shelved. The season isn’t one-third over and 14 players will have been on the IL for 16 stints.
The Yankees’ set an MLB record in 2019 with 30 players on the IL (for 36 stints), and it’s already in jeopardy. During last season’s 60-game season, it was more of the same with 18 IL stints for 16 players.
This year was supposed to be different. That’s what Yankees GM Brian Cashman preached last season and in the winter. He was confident year two with new performance coach Eric Cressey in charge of the training staff would amount to fewer injuries.
Maybe year three.
“I know a lot of teams are dealing with the injury bug, us as well now,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We’re trying to live in the now and trying to do all we can to get the most out of our guys, but also make sure whenever we can try and prevent these kind of things.”
Here are updates on the Yankees’ injured players:
ZACK BRITTON, LHP
Injury: Elbow surgery on March 15 to remove a bone chip.
Missed games: 48.
Status: 60-day injured list. Eligible to return on May 31.
The latest: Britton has had no more issues since being shut down for a few days last week with elbow soreness. He was scheduled to throw a second bullpen in three days on Wednesday. If he has no more setbacks, he’ll begin a rehab-assignment games with the Double-A Somerset Patriots on Saturday, then pitch again for them next Tuesday and Friday and Sunday. After that, he may be ready to be activated from the IL, or pitch another one or two minor-league outings.
Projected return: June 8 or June 10.
Boone update: “We’ll take as long as we/he feels like he’s ready to come back and be Zack Britton.”
* * *
COREY KLUBER, RHP
Injury: Subscapularis strain in right shoulder.
Missed games: 0.
Status: Will be placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
The latest: Kluber will be shut down from throwing four weeks minimum and then need a four-week build-up minimum based off the results of the MRI that he had on Wednesday. He scheduled another MRI with dye for Thursday that could reveal a more extensive injury, such as a shoulder tear that could end his season.
Projected return: Late July, early August at the earliest.
Boone update: “Getting that news is a certainly a blow and frustrating obviously, but the next thing is he’s going back to get the more invasive MRI to hopefully rule anything else out and know exactly what we’re dealing with so we can set the course to try and get him back.”
* * *
AARON HICKS, CF
Injury: Torn sheath that holds left wrist tendon in place.
Missed games: 12.
Status: 10-day injured list as of May 16 (retro to May 13).
The latest: Hicks was scheduled to undergo wrist surgery on Wednesday that may end his season.
Projected return: September, October or 2022.
Boone update: “Let’s get through the surgery and see what they say about a potential timeline and if that puts any point at the end of the season in play or not. It’s probably too early to speculate on that. But it’s going to be awhile.”
* * *
RYAN LAMARRE, OF
Injury: Right hamstring strain.
Missed games: 5.
Status: 10-day injured list as of May 20.
The latest: LaMarre suffered a severe strain that likely will sideline him for several weeks minimum.
Projected return: Late June at earliest.
Boone update: “He’s still quite a ways away, but he is making some pretty good progress, maybe even better than we anticipated.”
* * *
DARREN O’DAY, RHP
Injury: Right rotator cuff strain.
Missed games: 23.
Status: 10-day injured list as of May 1 (backdated to April 30).
The latest: O’Day recently began a throwing program after being shut down for three-plus weeks.
Projected return: Mid-June.
Boone update: Everything is going well. Darren was shut down for no throw for (almost) four weeks and now you build up.”
* * *
CLARKE SCHMIDT, RHP
Injury: Common extensor strain in right elbow.
Missed games: 48.
Status: 60-day injured list since March 27.
The latest: Schmidt still hasn’t been cleared to throw off a mound one month after resuming a throwing program around April 25 from an injury that occurred in late February with spring training just underway
Projected return: Unknown.
Boone update: “He has not got on the mound yet, but he’s been out to 120 feet (long tossing) and is progressing well.”
* * *
LUIS SEVERINO, RHP
Injury: Tommy John surgery on Feb. 27, 2000.
Missed games: 48.
Status: 60-day injury list since Feb. 23.
The latest: There has been no recent update on Severino, whose velocity was 95-97 during a simulated game last week. He’s supposedly getting close to beginning a minor-league rehab assignment if he has no setbacks.
Projected return: July.
GIANCARLO STANTON, DH
Injury: Left quad strain.
Missed games: 11.
Status: 10-day injured list as of May 17 (backdated to May 14).
The latest: Stanton was eligible to come off the IL for Tuesday’s game, but he hasn’t been activated because that day he added running on the field to his pre-game routine. The good news is he’s passing every test with no setbacks. His return has been delayed because the Yankees are trying to be extra cautious in attempt to prevent Stanton from coming off the IL and then going back on with the same injury shortly thereafter like he and other Yankees have done in the last few seasons.
Projected return: Friday.
Aaron Boone update: “Wait until Friday is the plan. Probably two more days. I don’t want to rule out (returning Thursday), but I’m kind of eyeing Friday in Detroit.”
* * *
LUKE VOIT, 1B
Injury: Grade 2 right oblique strain.
Missed games: 0.
Status: Will be placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
The latest: Voit has played just 12 games since returning from March knee surgery and now he’s looking at a longer layoff. He began experiencing oblique discomfort during last Saturday’s game, but played every inning through Tuesday. Aaron Judge had the same injury in 2019 and was on the injured list two months, missing 54 games.
Projected return: Late July, early August.
Boone update: “After (Tuesday’s) game, he just felt like he couldn’t really let it go like he wanted to. He had such success with the knee (rehab) and coming back, so to have a setback here that’s going to land him on the IL, obviously he’s very frustrated. Hopefully it’s not something that keeps him down too long.”
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