Andujar to have season-ending shoulder surgery

NEW YORK -- After a breakout campaign that saw Miguel Andújar finish second in the American League Rookie of the Year Award chase, the Yankees believed that they had found their third baseman for the foreseeable future.

That may still prove to be the case, but Andujar will have to wait until 2020 to showcase the extra-base thump of which the Yankees have been dreaming. Andujar has elected for right shoulder labrum repair surgery, the Yankees announced on Wednesday during their 3-1 win over the Orioles in the second game of a doubleheader.

The procedure, expected to be season-ending, will be performed on Monday by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

"Miggy is beloved in that room and obviously really important to us between the lines," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "Hopefully, this is a really good step for him and starting the healing process. I look forward to him getting it done and on his way back to make a full recovery. I hurt for him a little bit, but I also know this is the beginning of the road back."

Andujar sustained the tear by diving back into third base in the Yankees' third game of the season. Though the Yankees initially believed that Andujar's injury would not affect his hitting, Andujar was 3-for-34 (.088) after being activated from the injured list on May 4.

Yankees infielder Gleyber Torres said that he called Andujar between games of Wednesday's doubleheader, relaying his sympathy. The teammates are close friends, and Torres can relate to Andujar's situation, having required season-ending Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in June 2017.

"It's not that easy to have surgery and watch the game outside the field. I know how that feels," Torres said. "I think it's the best option for him. I think the most important thing for him is patience. It's a long recovery, but patience is the most important, and a strong mentality. It's not easy, but it's part of the life. Just be ready for the next season."

The 24-year-old Andujar finished second to the Angels' Shohei Ohtani in last year's AL Rookie of the Year Award voting, having batted .297/.328/.527 with 47 doubles, 27 homers, 92 RBIs and a 127 OPS+ in 149 games.

This season, he compiled a .128/.143/.128 slash line in 12 games.

"We want our guys healthy," said Aaron Hicks. "Most important, we want our guys to be healthy and come and play their kind of baseball. Obviously, him not being in the lineup is huge. He’s a great contributor for us, especially last year. We want the player we had last year."

Andujar has been replaced at third base by Gio Urshela, who is batting .330/.385/.489 with nine doubles, two homers and 15 RBIs through 33 games.

"It's sad. We don't want that," Urshela said. "I pray for him to get a quick recovery and get back to the games soon."