It was announced in early February that New York Yankees’ left-handed pitcher James Paxton would be receiving surgery on his back that had come from a prolonged injury. Since that announcement, Paxton has been recovering very well and has been working on a throwing program.
Before the sports shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paxton was supposed to miss three to four months of the regular season with an estimated return during mid-May. His recovery has been going well and because of a possible delayed start to the season, Paxton could be ready when that happens.
Paxton has been throwing on a consistent basis at home in Wisconsin and is being monitored weekly as he does so. “He’s able to work out up there,†manager Aaron Boone said. Even though he is doing well during this time and has been progressing with his throwing, Paxton will still need a full “spring-training” if games begin.
Despite the obvious reasons to be negative during these times, it’s important to note that a delayed start to the season could greatly benefit the New York Yankees. Other big players such as Aaron Judge (Ribs), Aaron Hicks (Elbow), and Giancarlo Stanton have also been dealing with their own injuries and they could fully recover by the time the season starts.
Paxton was a big part of the Yankees’ success last season. He finished the year with a 15-6 record while credited to a 3.82 ERA. Due to his dominance shown in the second half of the season, Paxton was given Game One for the ALDS against the Minnesota Twins in which he won the decision.