The New York Yankees will undoubtedly go through injury spurts like the rest of the league, but seeing several players miss time in spring training is never a good sign.
The New York Yankees should be worried:
Key players such as Aaron Hicks and Luis Severino have already picked up ailments ahead of the regular season debut later in March. Hicks is struggling with a stiff back and Severino an inflamed rotator cuff. While these injuries aren’t anything serious at the moment, it’s important we mention them as they could build into something more serious as the wear and tear of the season takes its toll.
Seeing two starters go down before the season even begins is worrisome, and the Yankees will need to approach this issue carefully – making sure as to not overwork the players and limit their usage should be a priority going forward.
When considering players that have had recent ailments in 2018, being cautious is never a bad thing. Aaron Judge has already smacked three homers in spring training and likely doesn’t need the extra work. Using him sparingly to ensure he carries momentum over into the season is a safe move.
How serious is Luis Severino’s injury?
Severino will be out for two weeks with the shoulder injury.
Luis Severino’s MRI showed rotator cuff inflammation. He will be shut down for two weeks, receive an injection and anti-inflammatories, then resume his throwing program.
— Bryan Hoch ?? (@BryanHoch) March 5, 2019
The start of the 2019 campaign is 23 days away and the team cannot risk being without their star pitcher to being the season. A lot of pitchers use the spring to test different pitches – grips and locations. Developing their stamina so they can progress through innings is a key point, but sometimes the mixture of different grips and prolonged pitching programs can culminate problems.
At this point, it seems like Severino will only be able to feature for a few innings to start the year until he can eventually work his way into his normal role.
Hicks, on the other hand, seems to just be experiencing some discomfort and should return in full form.