Yanks place Kendrys Morales (calf strain) on IL
Club recalls Cortes Jr., Tauchman from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
CHICAGO -- While the Yankees received encouraging news about Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, who appear to be nearing a return to the Major League club, the same couldn’t be said for Kendrys Morales, who was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday, with a left calf strain.
“He came out of the first game of [Tuesday's] doubleheader and just had a little tightness in his calf,” manager Aaron Boone said. “They examined him and thought it was best to put him on the IL.”
Boone doesn’t believe Morales’ calf strain is too serious, but he added the team will be cautious.
In corresponding moves, New York recalled left-hander Nelson Cortes Jr. and outfielder Michael Tauchman from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The club already had an open roster spot after optioning southpaw Stephen Tarpley to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre following the doubleheader.
Morales, who was acquired from the Athletics on May 14, is hitting .177 with a home run in 19 games with the Yankees, though he was coming off his best performance in pinstripes. The 35-year-old slugger went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a pair of runs scored in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets.
Morales is now the 20th Yankees player to be placed on the injured list this season.