Ahead of the three-game home series against the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees welcomed back starting pitcher Carlos Rodon. The most prized acquisition of the off-season was reinstated from IL for the first time in the season, and made his much-awaited debut. In 5.1 innings pitched, the left-hander allowed four hits and two runs and struck out two batters as well.
With Carlos Rodon’s return, the Yankee’s pitching rotation received a much-needed boost. Along with Rodon’s reinstatement, the club also announced a few other major roster moves. Jake Bauers, who was being treated for a shoulder injury, met his ill fate. On the other hand, Nestor Cortes, who is also suffering from shoulder discomfort, faced a setback.
Jake Bauers Moved To IL After Shoulder Injury
Journeyman Jake Bauers received a major league call-up in May in the aftermath of Aaron Judge’s hip injury. With stellar defense and consistent hitting, Bauers moved up as a starter. However, the baseman-turned-outfielder witnessed a setback on Wednesday. In the absence of Aaron Judge, Jake is splitting his time between the right and left field. While fielding on Wednesday afternoon against Baltimore Orioles, the journeyman banged his shoulder hard onto the ground while saving a line drive. The shoulder immediately developed swelling, and the Yanks had to bench him for the next game.
Jake Bauers went for an MRI scan on Thursday and was diagnosed with bruised rotator cuff. Moreover, as per MLB insider Bryan Hoch, the outfielder will receive a cortisone injection in a couple of days. As a result, an IL stint was seemingly inevitable. Ahead of the series opener against Cubs, the Yankees moved Bauers to 10-day IL. As a reinforcement, outfielder Franchy Cordero was called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. However, the fans are not too pleased with this move. Franchy has remained silent on a plate for the longest time after giving a hot start early into the season. On the other hand, Estevan Florial is raking the minor league with a .295 average, .992 OPS, and 21 home runs. Hence, as per the mass opinion, he truly deserved a spot to showcase his talent in the big leagues.
Yankees Extend Nestor Cortes’ IL Stint To 60-Days
Jake Bauers’ IL stint wasn’t the only roster move announced by the Yankees. To reinstate Carlos Rodon, they had to clear up some space in the roster. As a result, the team moved an injured Nestor Cortes to 60-day IL. Cortes suffered from a shoulder rotator cuff a few weeks ago and has been cut off from baseball-related activities. Just recently, the pitcher resumed throwing on the ground. However, it would still be a long way before he could hit a bullpen or a live session. Hence, Nestor’s return remains unlikely until early August.
These recurring injuries continue to haunt the Yankees’ campaign this season. After the latest blowout loss to Cubs at home, the team has slipped down to four in the East division. As per the current standings, the Yanks are out of the playoff race. Having said that, there is still time to at least put up a good fight. If a championship eventually slips out of their hands, the Bombers should at least strive to keep their pride as a team intact.
