Injuries & Moves: Cole ready to face hitters
LATEST NEWS
May 20: RHP Ian Hamilton placed on the 7-day COVID-19 injured list (retroactive to 5/19; LHP Clayton Andrews selected to the active roster; RHP Colby White designated for assignment
Hamilton felt ill prior to Sunday’s 7-2 win over the White Sox and was not available to pitch, according to manager Aaron Boone, who said that Hamilton was sent home during the game.
Andrews, 27, was 0-2 with a 6.60 ERA in 12 appearances with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He appeared in four Major League games with the Brewers last season, permitting 11 runs (10 earned) in 3 1/3 innings.
“He has life on the fastball and can spin it, too,” Boone said. “He has a fastball with ride and a really good changeup.”
White, 25, has pitched twice this season with Double-A Somerset. He permitted two runs and two hits across two-thirds of an inning (27.00 ERA).
7-DAY COVID-19 INJURED LIST
RHP Ian Hamilton
Expected return: TBA
Hamilton felt ill prior to the Yankees’ May 19 game against the White Sox and was unavailable to pitch. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said that Hamilton was sent home during the game. His symptoms continued on May 20, prompting the IL assignment. (Last updated: May 20)
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
INF DJ LeMahieu (non-displaced fracture of right foot)
Expected return: Late May
LeMahieu began a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset on May 17, and he might be ready to return to the Yankees' lineup during their nine-game West Coast road trip from May 24-June 2 against the Padres, Angels and Giants, according to manager Aaron Boone.
LeMahieu went 1-for-2 with an infield single for Somerset on May 17, playing three innings in the field, then went 1-for-1 with three walks while playing five innings at third on May 19. He's scheduled to play back-to-back games on May 21 and 22. Boone said that LeMahieu is expected to garner the bulk of playing time at third base upon his return, and he may also see time at first base.
LeMahieu has not played in a big league game this season after sustaining the injury on a foul ball March 16. He first began a rehab assignment on April 23, but that was shut down after only one inning when LeMahieu experienced soreness in the foot. The team is doing everything it can to avoid a repeat of that scenario.
“We feel like he’s in a really good spot physically. Part of the reason it has taken a long time is because he and us are going to be absolutely committed to this thing not being an issue when he goes to play,” Boone said. “We want him to check all the boxes as far as physically being able to move really well, physically being able to handle a heavy workload, a volume of swings and all that. And by all accounts, he’s ready to go.” (Last updated: May 20)
RHP Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder inflammation)
Expected return: May 22
Kahnle has been dominant during his Minor League rehab, striking out eight across three scoreless, hitless innings. His final appearance came on May 19 with Double-A Somerset, when he struck out two in a perfect inning. The Yankees plan to activate Kahnle on May 22.
Kahnle pitched his second rehab game with Somerset on May 16, striking out the side for a second straight outing. The right-hander also struck out the side in his first rehab appearance with Somerset two days prior.
Kahnle was slow-played during the spring after right shoulder inflammation ended his 2023 season and delayed his winter throwing program until Dec. 12. Though Kahnle was aiming to rejoin the Yankees when eligible on April 9, he experienced soreness after a throwing session on or around April 1, prompting the club to delay him further. (Last updated: May 20)
RHP Chase Hampton (sprained right ulnar collateral ligament; No. 3 on the Yankees Top 30 Prospect list)
Expected return: TBD
Hampton has yet to pitch this season after sustaining a right UCL strain during Spring Training. Hampton received a platelet-rich plasma injection on or around March 15, at which time he was shut down from throwing for four to six weeks. Hampton was reassigned to Minor League camp on March 3. (Last updated: May 18)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Gerrit Cole (right elbow discomfort)
Expected return: Possibly June
Cole tossed two simulated innings in the Yankee Stadium bullpen on May 18 and said that all went well. Cole is scheduled to face hitters for the first time on May 21, according to manager Aaron Boone. Pitching coach Matt Blake told reporters that Cole was clocked throwing in the low 90s during his most recent bullpen session.
“We just want to continue to progress and continue to stack good days,” Boone said. “That’s another step along the way, getting out there on the bump and facing hitters. I’m sure there’s an added bit of adrenaline that goes with that. They’re all important steps.”
Cole has been throwing from a mound since May 4, when he tossed 15 fastballs at Yankee Stadium. His following appearances have come on May 7, 11 and 14, including sessions at Tropicana Field on May 11 and at the Yankees’ spring complex in Tampa, Fla., on May 14.
“We’re making good progress,” Cole said.
Cole, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, is expected to need at least four to six weeks to ramp up once he begins pitching. Cole underwent an MRI on March 11 after relaying difficulty bouncing back between his spring outings, likening his level of fatigue to what he usually would feel after throwing 100 pitches during the regular season. He had more testing performed on March 12, then visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on March 14. ElAttrache confirmed that there was no damage to Cole’s ulnar collateral ligament. (Last updated: May 20)
OF Jasson Domínguez (right UCL tear; No. 1 on the Yankees Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: June or July
Domínguez began his Minor League rehab assignment by going 1-for-3 with a walk for Single-A Tampa on May 14. It was his first game action since undergoing Tommy John surgery last fall. Domínguez will serve as a designated hitter for the first two weeks of his assignment, which could see him promoted to higher levels as his rehab progresses. Aaron Boone indicated the Yankees have no intention of rushing Domínguez through his recovery.
“Let’s just get out of his way right now and get him right and get him playing and get him the regular reps,” Boone said, “and then we’ll see where we are, hopefully in 10 days, two weeks from now, when we’re now getting him into the outfield and starting to really build him up.”
The 21-year-old Domínguez was diagnosed with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Sept. 10, 2023. He underwent Tommy John surgery 10 days later, which included the addition of internal bracing. Dr. Keith Meister performed the procedure in Arlington. Domínguez resumed hitting right-handed on Feb. 26, then began taking swings from both sides of the plate in mid-March. (Last updated: May 15)
RHP Lou Trivino (recovery from Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Summer 2024
Trivino experienced right elbow inflammation in late April and was shut down for three to four weeks, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said on May 12.
“He won’t throw for a couple of more weeks, and then [will] start ramping up again,” Boone said. “They feel like it’s kind of minor.”
Trivino was seen by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, as well as team doctors, who performed imaging and confirmed no damage to the pitcher’s ulnar collateral ligament. Trivino is recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on May 3, 2023. (Last updated: May 12)
RHP Scott Effross (Tommy John surgery, back surgery)
Expected return: Summer 2024
Effross is moving closer to facing hitters, manager Aaron Boone said on May 12. The hurler is recovering from Tommy John surgery performed in October 2022, though he began experiencing back discomfort in autumn 2023, which prompted a microdiscectomy of his L-4 and L-5 vertebrae in December. (Last updated: May 12)
RHP JT Brubaker (recovery from Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Second half of 2024
Brubaker, who was acquired from the Pirates on March 29, is recovering from Tommy John surgery performed on April 12, 2023. He has been targeting the All-Star break for a big league return. Brubaker faced DJ LeMahieu in live batting practice on May 11 at the Yankees’ complex in Tampa, Fla. Manager Aaron Boone has said that Brubaker is on track to be an option for the club sometime during the summer. (Last updated: May 11)
RHP Jonathan Loáisiga (right UCL tear)
Expected return: 2025
Loáisiga said on April 6 that he has a torn UCL and needs season-ending surgery. Dr. Keith Meister will perform the procedure, which Loáisiga said has an estimated recovery time of 10 to 12 months. Loáisiga was placed on the 60-day injured list on April 5, retroactive to April 4. (Last updated: April 6)