The New York Yankees’ outfield depth has been tested, with several key players spending time on the injury list. Players like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Greg Allen, and others have all faced various ailments, leading to the constant shuffling of the outfield lineup. The lack of depth has adversely affected the lineup on the field.
Outfield depth has been a point of concern for the Yankees right from the start of the tournament. On paper, the team has the best group to start. However, no notable names were present to back them up in case of injuries. As a result, the Yanks found themselves in a deep hole as the second half resumed on Friday. Nonetheless, the team looks set to welcome a couple of players back in the imminent future.
Three Injured Yankees Outfielders To Begin Rehab Assignment In Minors!
While suspense over Aaron Judge‘s return timeline looms over the Yankees’ shoulders, they finally have something to look forward to. As per manager Aaron Boone, three injured outfielders, Greg Allen, Jake Bauers, and Willie Calhoun, are set to begin rehabbing in the minors. Greg Allen, who replaced veteran Aaron Hicks in the lineup, suffered from a hip injury in May. He was subsequently transferred to IL for six weeks. After grueling recovery sessions, Allen has been transferred to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a rehab assignment. Once he clears it, he will become eligible to rejoin the main lineup.
On the other hand, journeyman outfielder Jake Bauers suffered a shoulder injury while defending in the left field. In an attempt to stop a play, he banged his shoulder hard on the ground, which led to intense inflammation. Hence, he, too, entered IL for 10 days. Meanwhile, as per the latest update, Bauers will join Greg Allen in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a workout. After working out for a few days, he will also commence a rehab assignment. Apart from Allen and Bauers, Willie Calhoun (quad strain) has landed at Somerset Patriots. He will work out for a few days before commencing a rehab assignment. Hence, if all things go well, all three outfielders could rejoin the lineup in a couple of weeks, which could prove to be a massive boost for the Yankees.
Nestor Cortes Gearing Up For An Imminent Return!
Along with outfield depth, the Yankees also look poised to welcome back a key starting pitcher. Nestor Cortes suffered from shoulder cuff strain last month and has been on IL ever since. However, the pitcher recently ramped up his recovery process. Prior to the All-Star break, he threw a couple of live sessions and pitched close to 35 pitches. Moreover, recently, he threw a live session against Aaron Judge and looked in great touch.
Meanwhile, as per Gary Phillips, Nestor Cortes is set to commence a rehab assignment on Saturday. It still remains unknown how many starts Cortes is scheduled to throw. But as per media rumors, Nestor Cortes could rejoin the lineup by early August. These injury updates will bring a massive boost to the Yankees’ playoff dream. The second half kicked off on the wrong foot as the team suffered heavy losses. Once these key players return, the roster will receive additional strength to compete at its full potential.