New York Yankees traded outfielder Alex Verdugo from the Boston Red Sox earlier this off-season with a view to resolving its long-withstanding left field issues. While Verdugo had an excellent start to the season, the slugger witnessed a sudden drop in form heading into the All-Star break.
The defensive gaffe against the Baltimore Orioles led to his benching, and his offensive form never recovered. Having said that, Alex Verdugo recently revealed that he is suffering from some kind of skin condition that could have potentially impacted his hitting, especially this season as he bats for the New York Yankees.
Alex Verdugo’s Hands, Fingers Blistered Due To Allergies
New York Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo’s recent slump on the plate has been attributed to an unexpected and unusual cause: an allergic reaction affecting his hands and fingers. This surprising revelation sheds light on the physical challenges that Verdugo has been quietly battling, which have significantly impacted his performance at the plate. In a chat with NJ Advance Media, Verdugo revealed that since 2021, his hands and fingers often developed blisters. His skin is dry, and hence, to curb the pain, he wears straps and knuckles around his hands before coming out to bat on the plate. When the outfielder visited doctors, they diagnosed him with allergies. “You’re allergic to your batting gloves,” the doctor apparently told a shocked Verdugo.
The dermatologist added that Alex Verdugo is allergic to cobalt and chromate, which is essentially used to manufacture batting gloves. Additionally, a Manhattan-based allergist, Dr. Arthur Lubitz, opined that Verdugo’s tattoo could also contribute to the allergies. “It’s very rare, but the tattoos are made of metal ink, and you can get a tattoo allergy to the metal,” Lubitz said. However, despite the diagnosis, Alex Verdugo is trying to find ways to curb the outbreak of blisters and somehow get rid of it, as he does not want to use it as an excuse to hide his underperformance. Moreover, it’s been more than 3 years since Verdugo first contacted his allergies, and hence his frustration is growing. Dr Lubitz suggested an injection, which could help with faster healing. However, proper treatment is only possible in the off-season as it requires a series of tests and days of clinic visits.
Yankees Lose Key Third Baseman To UCL Injury
In a devastating turn of events, the New York Yankees lost third baseman Jazz Chisholm to a UCL injury on the left elbow. Jazz sustained the injury while sliding down at home plate against the Chicago White Sox, and MRI scans detected a UCL injury in his non-throwing elbow. However, he will still need significant time to recover.
On Thursday, the New York Yankees placed him on 10-day IL with left elbow sprain. MLB insider Bryan Hoch reported that the Yanks were still consulting doctors on the need of a potential surgery which will end Jazz Chisholm Jr’s 2024 season effective immediately. Meanwhile, top infield prospect Oswald Peraza has been recalled from Triple-A as infield back up.
Stay tuned with Sports News International for more such updates about your favorite MLB team
