New York Yankees: Latest injury updates on 10 Yankee players (video)

Compared to the last two seasons, the New York Yankees have been blessed with far fewer significant injuries. One of the injuries is a carryover from last year. Luis Severino underwent Tommy John surgery, not allowing him to pitch at all last season. Now Severino is just two months away from his expected return. Here is a list of the Yankees’ present injuries and the players’ progress.

Giancarlo Stanton, quad:

Giancarlo Stanton was scratched from last night’s game in Baltimore due to left quad tightness. Stanton has had a history of quadriceps problems. This issue has arisen in his left quad. He previously had right quad problems in the 2019 ALCS. He has not been put on the 10 day IL, and the Yankees have not explained the extensiveness of the injury. We know that Stanton usually does not come back quickly from these injuries if they are serious. The Yankees have to hope that the injury is minor as he is presently their best hitter.

Aaron Hicks, wrist:

The injury to Aaron Hicks wrist may not be a minor as the Stanton injury. Hicks could be out for some time with a wrist injury. They have issued a mixed bag on the injury, saying that he could return after a few days of rest, that he may have to go to the IL, to he may require surgery. If the latter is the case, he will be missing from the Yankees lineup for some time. “I think it could go either way,” is what Aaron Boone said. With Odor, Torres, and Stanton out of the lineup, the Yankee hope he will just need rest.

Gio Urshela, knee:

Gio Urshela is not on the IL and is still playing. During a catch in the Astros series, Urshela injured his knee, falling on it. He missed a few days and returned to the team. In the last game at Tampa, he seemed to run the bases haltingly. Last night he seemed to run better. In an after-game interview, he indicated it was getting better each day.

Gleyber Torres, Covid:

Of the eight positive Covid cases the New York Yankees are dealing with, Gleyber Torres is the only player affected. After being infected with the virus last December, Torres was one of the vaccinated players in April with the J&J vaccine. Wednesday, it was announced that Torres had contracted the virus again. He was placed on the 10 Covid lists. That protocol calls for him to be quarantined for 10 days in Tampa, or if he tests negative for three days in a row, he may be able to return to the team.

Darren O’Day, rotator cuff:

The 38 year old sidearm reliever is on the 10 IL for a rotaor cuff injury. “You talk to any veteran relief pitcher, you’re going to deal with things throughout the year,” Boone said. “This is enough to where it does require a few weeks of shutdown. Hopefully he can get this thing right and still be an important part of our bullpen moving forward.”

Asher Wojciechowski, lat injury:

Asher is now with the Scranton Wilkes/Barre Rail Raiders. He suffered a lat injury at the end of spring training. He has bee day to day and  very little information on his rehab is available, but once he is good to go it is  unlikely he will return to the team.

Zack Britton, Bone chip:

Back in March, Zack Britton underwent surgery to have a bone chip removed from his pitching elbow. Earlier in April, Aaron Boone provided a positive update on Britton’s rehab.

“Zack’s doing really well. He’s got full range of motion. I think he is scheduled to start playing catch as early as this week. … The incision and the swelling and all that, which is the biggest hurdle to clear initially, is going really well for him.

Britton is not eligible to return until the end of this month, depending on his progress.  He will throw off a mound now that the New York Yankees have returned from their road trip, Max Goodman of Sports Illustrated reports.

Robinson Chirinos, wrist:

Robinson Chirinos is now at Triple-A Scranton rehabbing. He is doing well playing in exhibition games and could return to the Yankees in the next two weeks if he is needed.

Clarke Schmidt,

Jordan Horrobin of MLB.com reports that Schmidt has begun throwing again. Schmidt suffered a common flexor strain during spring training. He received a cortisone shot to relieve pain. If pitching off the flat is a success, he will move on to pitch from the mound. There is no timetable for his return. Boone said, “Obviously, it’s going to take a while because he’s starting from scratch essentially, but he’s doing well.”

Luis Severino, Tommy John:

Severino has been throwing off a mound since March 11 and is close to being cleared to face hitters. Manager Aaron Boone said:

“I don’t know his exact date of throwing to hitters. I know it’s mapped out and I’ll try to peek at the schedule here (Thursday or Friday). I know that he’s got a bullpen (Thursday) (April 29) of 35 pitches, so he is getting close.”

Severino was originally expected to return to the mound at Yankee Stadium late in the summer, but that has advanced to him returning very late in June of at least before the All-Star break. This week he was seen at the Tampa complex throwing a batting practice with New York Yankees phenom Jasson Dominguez.