The New York Yankees have been without one of their best pitchers, right-hander Corey Kluber, since late May because of a shoulder strain that took away three months of his season. His time, however, is coming: the veteran 35-year-old hurler will made his return to the Bombers’ active roster on Monday.
Kluber, who left a 3.04 ERA and a great impression on the Yankees after a horrible start, will provide the Bombers with another option for the rotation, as the roster is getting healthy at the right time.
Per information provided to the media by Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone on Thursday night, Kluber will be activated from the injured list and is being listed as the Yanks’ probable starter for Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels.
“He feels really good and I think he’s ready for this next step,†Boone said, per MLB.com. “He’s ready to take on Major League competition and go to that next level.â€
The Yankees can use Kluber’s talents
Kluber was signed late in the offseason to a one-year, $11 million contract, as the Yankees beat several other interested teams for his signature. He started the season with a few clunkers, as he didn’t have his command, but turned things around and was peaking at the moment of injuring his shoulder in late May. He even threw a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on May 19.
But in his next start, he was diagnosed with a right subscapular strain and spent months without throwing a baseball.
Kluber has been on turn for a couple of weeks now, making two rehab starts at Double-A Somerset. He is already stretched out to 60 pitches.
“He’s been bouncing back from his outings well as he’s been building up here,†Boone said. “He’s not all the way built up like his full starter load, but we feel like he’s built up enough to hopefully go out and give us a few really strong innings.â€