Tarpley hits 10-day IL; Stanton moved to 60-day
Reliever Lail called up for 1st time after over 700 innings in Minors
TORONTO -- Stephen Tarpley embraced the idea of being a workhorse out of the Yankees' bullpen, throwing 51 pitches on Aug. 6 at Baltimore and another 57 in New York's 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays on Saturday.
Those assignments appear to have caught up with the hurler, who landed on the 10-day injured list on Sunday with a left elbow impingement. Tarpley is the 27th Yankees player to serve an IL stint this year.
"I don't really know how it happened," Tarpley said. "It wasn't on one pitch. A couple of pitches weren't feeling right, and I decided it was probably a good time to head in, check things out and make sure everything is OK. We're just going to take a look at it and start to figure everything out."
Tarpley said that he had an X-ray, which revealed no issues, and he is scheduled for an MRI on Monday in New York.
"Hopefully it’s not something too serious," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "He doesn’t seem to think it is. With our situation, him being down a few days, we want to make sure he gets looked at so we're playing it a little cautious here. Hopefully it’s not something too long."
In corresponding roster moves, the Yankees signed right-hander Brady Lail and left-hander Joe Mantiply to Major League contracts and selected them to the 25-man roster from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, while optioning infielder Breyvic Valera to Triple-A.
"We just wanted to get coverage for today," Boone said. "In this stretch, we’ve leaned on a lot of guys. It's just having as many fresh arms as possible in case we get into a funky situation."
Long time coming
Since being selected in the 18th round of the 2012 MLB Draft, Lail has hurled 733 2/3 innings in the Yankees' Minor League system, though Sunday marked his first opportunity to walk on a big league diamond. The 26-year-old was welcomed by familiar faces in the clubhouse, many of whom he has played with during Spring Training or at various levels of the chain.
"This opportunity is incredible. I never saw it coming," Lail said. "It was a dream since I was a little kid and now we're sitting in the locker room here in the big leagues. From an 18th-round pick in 2012 to finally setting my foot on the turf; it's been crazy."
Having been converted from a starter into a reliever, Lail is 4-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 20 appearances at three levels this year. He got the news of his callup from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre manager Jay Bell shortly after being late for the national anthem prior to Saturday's game against Gwinnett.
"He was like, 'Hey, you've got to make sure you're on time tomorrow. We need you to be a leader out there,'" Lail recalled. "I was like, 'Yeah.' And he was like, 'Because you're going to have two -- a Canadian one and an American one. You're going to Toronto.' They were giving me a hard time and making me feel like I was in trouble for something and got me freaking out. Then obviously the exciting news."
On Stanton island
Giancarlo Stanton was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Sunday and now cannot be activated until Aug. 25, though that is a formality since general manager Brian Cashman said the team does not expect him to play before Sept. 1 as the slugger recovers from a right PCL strain.
"I think that was obviously based on creating space for [Lail and Mantiply]," Boone said. "I do believe we will get G back at some point."
Comeback trail
Dellin Betances (right shoulder impingement) is scheduled to throw from the bullpen mound on Monday at Yankee Stadium.
Greg Bird (left plantar fascia tear) has been in and out of a walking boot and exercising on a treadmill. Boone said that Bird is feeling good and potentially moving toward baseball activities.
Jacoby Ellsbury (left hip surgery recovery) continues to rehab at the Yankees' complex in Tampa, Fla. Boone said that Ellsbury is moving toward full workouts in the weight room and could resume baseball activities in September, though he is not expected to play this year.
CC Sabathia (right knee inflammation) threw from the bullpen mound on Sunday and reported no issues. He is scheduled to do so again on Tuesday in New York, and if that goes well, Sabathia could rejoin the Yankees’ rotation during the Aug. 15-18 series against the Indians.
This date in Yankees history
Aug. 11, 1929: Babe Ruth hit his 500th home run off the Indians' Willis Hudlin at Cleveland's League Park. The Yankees lost the game, 6-5.