The New York Yankee’s setup man Zack Britton has had some terrible luck so far this year. The pitching giant for the Yankees that pitched to an ERA of 1.89 last season and had eight saves in Aroldis Chapman’s absence recovering from a coronavirus diagnosis, had his own bout with the virus this January that “really hit him hard” and affected his season preparation. Now the news out of Lakeland, Florida, yesterday is that he will have to undergo left elbow surgery to remove a bone chip.
The surgery that will be performed sometime in the next few days, will be performed back in New York at Presbyterian Hospital. The New York Yankees announced the surgery would be performed by the team surgeon Dr. Christopher Ahmad. The surgery will certainly not allow Britton to be ready for opening day. He will likely be rehabbing for at least four weeks, possibly longer. After the surgery was announced, Britton had this to say:
“I appreciate the support from everyone. We all have daily challenges we have to overcome in order to reach our goals. Just have to keep pushing ahead! I will get this taken care of during the upcoming week and be back as soon as I can.”
After trading away Adam Ottavino to the Red Sox and now this news about Zack Britton, the Yankees have to be very happy they employed Darren O’Day, a closer-like arm for the bullpen. With Britton out at the beginning of the season, it will likely cause more work for O’Day, Chad Green, and Justin Wilson. O’Day was one of the best relievers last season. He had an ERA of 1.10 in 19 games.
Another Wall hit for Clint Frazier
Fans were shocked and scared when Clint Frazier slammed into the wall in Lakeland, Florida, today in a game against the Tigers that the Yankees lost 6-5. But the game loss was the least of their concerns; the thought of losing Frazier after he has accomplished so much was on everyone’s mind.
Clint Frazier slammed into the left-field wall going after a Willi Castro homer in the bottom of the fourth at Joker Marchant Stadium. Frazier was stunned and obviously in pain after the incident. The game was halted while manager Aaron Boone and the trainer, checked him out at the wall. After a short time, he remained in the game for the fourth inning.
“He came out fine,’’ Boone said. “He was very clear-eyed and said he was fine. Later Frazier said, ‘I know what it feels like when I hit the wall [with my head] and this was nothing like that.’ â€
Part of the scare was not only hitting the wall but three seasons ago, Frazier got a concussion hitting the wall headfirst in Bradenton, Florida, during spring training. The effects of the concussion, which lingered for months, not only robbed Frazier of a year of his career but left him with black holes in his memory; entire swaths of 2018 he can’t recall. Hopefully, that will be no lingering problems from this incident.
New York Yankee to play the Pirates today
After playing the Detroit Tigers yesterday away at Lakeland, Florida, the Yankees will be back at home at George M. Steinbrenner Field in St. Pete. The visiting team will be the Pittsburgh Pirates. It will be the second time the two teams have met this spring training and the first time at home for the Yankees. In their previous meeting, the Yankees lost to the Brandenton team 3-2.
The Yankees have not announced a starting pitcher for the game, but whoever it is, he will face the Pirates’, Tyler Anderson. The most likely Yankees starter should be either Kluber or Cole, but it could be anybody with spring training. The game will be an unusual night game at 6:35 pm. The game will be televised on the YES Network.