The Yankees have placed catcher Kyle Higashioka on the 10-day injured list with a right oblique strain, retroactive to Thursday, the team announced prior to Saturday’s doubleheader against the Rays at Tropicana Field.

The backup to Gary Sánchez, Higashioka has appeared in three games this season, producing two hits in nine at-bats (.222). Manager Aaron Boone said that Higashioka first experienced the oblique issue on Thursday, and he was unable to swing a bat on Friday.

Boone said that Higashioka is scheduled to have an MRI exam on Monday in New York to determine the severity of the strain and a potential timetable for return.

“We thought it was going to be something he'd work through, and then [Friday] it was just a little tighter than we're comfortable going with as a hitter,” Boone said. “We decided we needed to do this, and hopefully try and get out ahead of it and keep it as something that's a short-term thing.”

In corresponding moves, the Yanks signed catcher Erik Kratz to a Major League contract and selected him to the active roster, while also recalling infielder Thairo Estrada. Estrada did not appear in the Yankees' 8-4 win in Game 1 and was optioned between games of the doubleheader, with right-hander Ben Heller recalled from the alternate site.

The 40-year-old Kratz said that he has been impressed by the focus displayed at the team’s alternate training site in Moosic, Pa., where players are debating between nicknaming themselves “The JV Team” or “Field 2.”

“[The workouts have] actually gone opposite of what I thought they were going to,” Kratz said. “They've gotten more intense because you're facing the same guys over and over again. You embarrass the pitcher one day and then he embarrasses you three times the next time he's out there. The competitive spirit in us is the only way to stay ready. It’s what keeps us going.”

Now in his 18th professional season and having appeared in parts of 10 big league seasons, Kratz played briefly for the Yankees in 2017 and saw time with the Giants and Rays last year. He was in camp with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee when play halted in March.

“Over the next few months, you wondered, is this season going to happen?” Kratz said. “Am I going to get an opportunity to come back? Then once they started ramping things up, then you wonder, are you going to get a call? I was fortunate to get a call and be able to work out at Summer Camp and the alternate site to stay running.”

New York designated right-hander Nick Tropeano for assignment; Tropeano did not appear in Friday’s game after being added to the roster earlier in the day. The Yanks appointed right-hander Albert Abreu as the 29th man for Saturday’s doubleheader.

Down on the farm
Kratz has had opportunities to catch right-handers Clarke Schmidt and Deivi García at the alternate training site. He believes the Yanks’ No. 2 and No. 3 prospects, respectively, are prepared to make a splash in the Majors.

“They're ready to go. There's no other way to say it,” Kratz said. “There's a lot of really good arms down, all at different spots in their career, different spots in their development. But those guys, what you saw in Spring Training is what you're going to get. And they're doing the same thing down there.”

Schmidt has been extended to four innings in simulated games, while García has thrown about 50 pitches over two to three simulated innings. Boone said that he is hearing “good things” about the duo, and believes that García and Schmidt could see big league time this year as starters or relievers.

“I’m always seeing what's going on down there -- who's throwing, how guys are doing, trying to check in and get reports from coaches,” Boone said. “I ask players when they come up, and I’ll pick Erik Kratz’s brain on that as well. I’m constantly getting reports like you would during a regular Minor League season. That may be even more hyper-focused because that's our only spot where our guys are active.”

Bombers bits
The Yankees placed catcher Chris Iannetta on the restricted list Friday after he did not report to the club’s alternate training site. Boone declined to comment on Iannetta’s status, saying, “I’ll just leave it at that for now.”

Up next
The Yankees will conclude their weekend series at Tropicana Field on Sunday, facing the Rays in a 1:10 p.m. ET contest. Left-hander James Paxton hopes to reclaim some of his fastball velocity in his third start of the season, with right-hander Charlie Morton set to take the ball for Tampa Bay.