Is the Injury Bug Back for the Yankees?
The Yankees and their fans had high hopes coming into spring training this year, after signing for pitcher Gerrit Cole. A change to the team’s strength and conditioning staff, it was hopeful that last year’s injury woes were left in the last decade.
Unfortunately that seems to not be the case and we’re only two weeks into the pre-season.
First it was announced that pitcher James Paxton had undergone surgery to remove a cyst from his spine. As horrible as that sounds, he’s expected to be available to play in May. Okay, we can deal with that.
Next, Aaron Judge who missed a third of the season with a strained oblique felt sore in his right shoulder. His throwing arm and the one he had surgery on going into 2019 that slowed his spring training down. He’s expected to start playing in games after March 2. Worrisome but still, not alarming.
However after missing almost all of last season, Luis Severino had been complaining of pain in his forearm when pitching his change up. He will have Tommy John surgery and be out for the year. This was probably the injury blow that broke open the dam of worry. After seeming like a solid pitching rotation, the fifth starter position is once again open for someone to step in like Domingo German did last year.
On top of that news, it was announced at the conclusion of a rain-shortened win for the Yankees on Wednesday, that Giancarlo Stanton had a Grade 1 strain of his right calf and would maybe not be ready for opening day. Fans on Twitter saying he has “Ellsbury-itis” after being injured most of last year with various ailments, reminiscence of Jacoby Ellsbury who didn’t play for the Yankees for over two years.
Do we wrap the remaining players in bubble wrap? Hopefully the Bronx Bombers don’t match last year’s record of 30 players on 39 stints on the IL.
