Injuries & Moves: Rice gets call; Rizzo active but 'a long shot' for ALDS
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Sept. 29: C/1B Ben Rice recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre; RHP Scott Effross optioned to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre; RHP Mark Leiter Jr. activated from the paternity list
The decision to option Effross instead of placing Anthony Rizzo on the injured list keeps open the possibility that Rizzo could participate in the American League Division Series, though manager Aaron Boone described that as “a long shot.”
Rizzo sustained fractures to the fourth and fifth fingers of his right hand after being hit by a seventh-inning Ryan Borucki pitch in Saturday’s 9-4 loss to the Pirates. If Rizzo is unavailable for the ALDS, the Yankees are considering Rice and Oswaldo Cabrera at first base. Rice slashed .174/.269/.356 in 49 big league games after being promoted in July.
Leiter has pitched to a 5.23 ERA in 20 appearances since being acquired by the Yankees from the Cubs on July 30.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
INF DJ LeMahieu (right hip impingement)
Expected return: TBD
LeMahieu, who has been on the IL since Sept. 9, said on Sept. 27 that he hopes to be involved in baseball activities soon and be available for the American League Division Series, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 5. He said he is moving better because of the cortisone injection he received on Sept. 12.
“I want to do everything I can to make sure that I’m an option,” LeMahieu said.
LeMahieu will participate in workouts as the Yankees prepare for the ALDS, manager Aaron Boone said.
“We’ll get to look at a lot of those things this week,” Boone said. “I don’t want to rule it out, but I don’t want to necessarily expect it, either. The biggest thing is, I do feel like this time down has served DJ well. I know [after] the treatments that he feels significantly better, which is encouraging. But I also want to prioritize that we don’t put him in a bad spot, either.”
LeMahieu's hip issue was lingering for several weeks before he landed on the IL, affecting his ability to rotate his hips and generate power at the plate. LeMahieu said that surgery has not been discussed. (Last updated: Sept. 29)
RHP Jake Cousins (right pectoral strain)
Expected return: Possibly ALDS
Cousins tossed on Sept. 27 and 28 at Yankee Stadium, which manager Aaron Boone said went well. He is scheduled to toss again on Sept. 30, targeting a bullpen session on Oct. 1, then potentially live batting practice on Oct. 3.
Cousins first noticed the pectoral issue during a Sept. 15 appearance against the Red Sox, then again on Sept. 19 at Seattle, when his velocity was lower and Boone removed him after six pitches. (Last updated: Sept. 29)
LHP Nestor Cortes (left elbow flexor strain)
Expected return: Possibly a potential ALCS (scheduled to begin Oct. 14)
Cortes was placed on the 15-day injured list on Sept. 25, retroactive to Sept. 22, after an MRI revealed a strain. Cortes, 29, said he had been experiencing tenderness near his pitching elbow for about three weeks, but the discomfort intensified during a Sept. 22 bullpen at Oakland, prompting the exam. Cortes said on Sept. 25 that he would be shut down for about 7-10 days and also was scheduled to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection. He said the MRI appeared to show that his left ulnar collateral ligament was intact, though the imaging would be sent to two doctors for additional opinions. (Last updated: Sept. 25)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Lou Trivino (recovery from Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: 2025
Trivino's Minor League rehab assignment has been shut down due to shoulder issues, manager Aaron Boone said on Sept. 22. Trivino's last appearance for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre was on Sept. 13. His recovery from Tommy John surgery performed in May 2023 was stalled by a bout with right elbow inflammation in April. (Last updated: Sept. 22)
RHP JT Brubaker (recovery from Tommy John surgery, oblique strain)
Expected return: Possibly September
Brubaker began a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sept. 15.
“It’s good, because we thought we may lose him for the year,” manager Aaron Boone said. “So we’ll see how it goes. He certainly could be in the mix.”
Brubaker sustained an oblique injury while making a fielding play during his July 11 Minor League rehab start for the RailRiders and was shut down from baseball activities. The injury interrupted Brubaker’s recovery from Tommy John surgery performed on April 12, 2023. He was acquired from the Pirates on March 29. (Last updated: Sept. 15)
OF Everson Pereira (right UCL tear; No. 10 on the Yankees top prospects list)
Expected return: 2025
Pereira underwent reconstructive Tommy John surgery with an internal brace in early June, manager Aaron Boone said on June 14. Pereira had been playing through the injury at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, last appearing for the RailRiders on May 14. Boone said Pereira’s injury was “unfortunate,” but that similar to Jasson Domínguez, it is one the organization expects him to bounce back from. “This isn’t something that’s going to hurt his career too much," Boone said. "He should come back full strength from this.” (Last updated: June 15)
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 was slated to 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)