The Yankees series against the Mets was postponed this weekend, but that did not stop their incredible list of injuries on Friday, as James Paxton, Gleyber Torres and Luis Avilan are all on the injured list after undergoing MRI exams .
Paxton was diagnosed with a flex-strain of the left forearm. He felt discomfort in his elbow and forearm during his start on Thursday when he took a no-hitter in the fifth inning before he could allow three runs in that inning.
Torres left the game Thursday with a tight left hamstring that ran to first base. He was diagnosed with a grade 1 strain in his hamstring and quad.
The left-handed Avilan was also hit hard in his outing on Thursday and was sealed due to inflammation of his left shoulder.
The news was hardly unexpected and adds to the health waves the Yankees have experienced this year, with Aaron Judge (punished right hamstring), Giancarlo Stanton (strained left hamstring), DJ LeMahieu (spread left thumb) all from the lineup , Zack Britton out with a tight hamstring and Luis Severino and Tommy Kahnle both recovered from Tommy John surgery.
And while the news could have been less for Paxton and the Yankees, that does not mean the injury will not lead to elbow surgery for the 31-year-old, who will be following a follow-up agent for the first time this season.
Fellow Yankees southpaw Jordan Montgomery also suffered from a flexor strain before finally undergoing Tommy John surgery two years ago.
Paxton also underwent back surgery during spring training. He made it back in time for the slow start of the regular season, but his speed has been 4-5 mph among most of his outings and Paxton has generally struggled this year.
His injury is another blow to the rotation of the Yankees, who are already without Luis Severino, who had Tommy John surgery this spring.
It could open a place for top man Clarke Schmidt, who is under the impression of the spring training and is on the alternative side of the team in Scranton.
General manager Brian Cashman could also seek to make a move ahead of the August 31 trading deadline, but with the coronavirus creating such uncertainty this season, it is not clear which teams will give up.
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And although Torres has struggled a lot this season, he had improved on the plate before a recent 1-for-11 slide. His transition to the only shortstop has also not gone smoothly.
The hope is that Torres will not be out for long, but with the infection already without LeMahieu in second place, Tyler Wade was incarcerated and Thairo Estrada came off the bench to replace Torres on Thursday.
The Yankees recently signed veteran Jordy Mercer, who can play shortstop, and Miguel Andujar was also sent to the alternative side after Wednesday’s game. Andujar did not do well in his adjustment to get off the bench.
Avilan’s injury leaves them without another left-back option out of the pen, with Britton out as well.
Friday’s news also sheds light on the Yankees’ problems with ongoing injuries, with players coming down with great frequency after a second straight season. Asked on Thursday if the recent string of injuries that occurred despite the resources that have been circulating in the area all season long, Cashman responded in a text message: ‘Player care will always be a focus and our intention is to make the best efforts to deliver to that always, while recognizing that this is a sport where injuries prevent accidents. ”
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