The Yankees will open a seven-game homestand May 3, at which point injured third baseman Miguel Andujar could rejoin their lineup, manager Aaron Boone said Friday (via George A. King III of the New York Post). Whether that happens will depend on how Andujar fares in extended spring training and minor league rehab games over the next several days. For now, though, Boone is “cautiously optimistic” about Andujar’s torn right labrum, which looked like a potential season-ending injury when he went on the IL on April 1. The 24-year-old is one of a whopping 15 Yankees who have landed on the injured list this season, but the reserve-laden club has weathered the storm with a 15-11 start. Third base subs DJ LeMahieu and Gio Urshela have performed well along the way, helping to ease the burden of Andujar’s absence.
- White Sox left fielder Eloy Jimenez exited Friday’s game with a right ankle sprain and was wearing a walking boot afterward, per James Fegan of The Athletic (subscription required). X-rays on Jimenez’s ankle came back negative, but he’ll undergo an MRI on Saturday. An IL stint seems like a distinct possibility for the 22-year-old phenom, who’s just 85 plate appearances into his career.
- Rangers lefty Taylor Hearn endured a rough debut start. Now, he’s headed to the 10-day IL with elbow tightness. That’s not how the club drew things up when it called upon one of its most promising young pitchers to join the MLB roster. Hearn’s outlook isn’t yet known. That was just one of several moves, as fellow hurler Jeffrey Springs and infielder Patrick Wisdom were optioned out. Second bagger Rouned Odor was activated from the IL while pitchers Ariel Jurado and Wei-Chieh Huang were called up to provide some fresh arms.
- Standout Blue Jays infield prospect Bo Bichette is down with a broken left hand, but general manager Ross Atkins said Friday he won’t require surgery, as Scott Mitchell of TSN tweets. The Jays expect a four- to six-week recovery time for the 21-year-old Bichette, who’s regarded as one of the game’s premier prospects.
- The Royals have placed first baseman Lucas Duda on the 10-day IL, retroactive to April 24, and recalled third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez from Triple-A Omaha, according to Pete Grathoff and Sam McDowell of the Kansas City Star. Duda’s dealing with a lumbar strain, which continues a rough start to the season for the 33-year-old. The free-agent pickup has hit a miserable .174/.304/.326 in 56 trips to the plate. Meanwhile, Gutierrez batted an impressive .333/.443/.439 in 79 PA prior to his promotion, and he’s now in line for his first major league action. The Royals acquired Gutierrez, 24, from the Nationals last June as part of a deal centering on reliever Kelvin Herrera. Gutierrez currently ranks as KC’s 14th-best prospect at MLB.com.
Andujar has gotta continue to be stellar with the bat in order to outweigh his anemic defense but man do I miss seeing his name in the lineup
His defense is brutal . But the yanks need his bat in the middle of the order. When cc pitches or when the yanks play right handed heavy teams it might be a good idea to DH andujar and have DJM or urshela play third
Why? They’re not losing without him.
Look who they’re playing.
Andujar should exclusively play DH and 3rd only when Urchela needs a day off.
Urshela isn’t good enough to be the starting 3B. It could work for now, since there are so many injuries, but DH is Stanton’s spot once he Hicks and Frazier return in the next 2 weeks as expected
Depth is a good thing. These things tend to work themselves out.
That’s the problem…they have too many DH types….Agree with xpackyank that Urshela has earned the right to play in the field until/if he begins to fade with the bat. Time to admit that the only reason Andujar is playing in the. field is because of his bat….oh those sidearm throws to first!!!!!
He’s a DH, with a bat that’s major league and defense that is less than average and will kill you in a tight game which is the MO of the lousy defense of Sanchez also who additionally should be a DH with only occasional starts behind the plate.
Stanton isn’t a left fielder although he certainly hasn’t hurt the Yankees badly when he has played there.
They had flexibility in 2017, they could shuffle guys around. 2018 they went back to the 2003-2013 clubs all or nothing offense and bad to ok defense.
Stanton does have a 39.9 UZR
They hand a good defensive team just a lot of veterans that were playing out past their prime
People forget that Stanton is a solidly above average outfielder . Just because he mashes and doesn’t have elite speed doesn’t mean hes a DH
People forget Stanton is a good outfielder because he mashes and is 6 foot 7
He is a good, if not very good outfielder….however, his position is RF which is and will be manned by Aaron Judge. Playing Leftfield is playing out of position for him…..that’s all I intended in my post….I think Stanton doesn’t get enough respect for his defense overall, including his arm.
Stanton is just below league average in RF, and is bottom LF in drs, uzr.
“lousy defense of Sanchez”
Ahahahahaha
You don’t even TRY to hide the hate.
All of this being they’re “cautiously optimistic”.
Urshela’s defense has won them two games in the last week. He should stay there and his hitting has come a long way since Cleveland.
Hate to say it but Andujar has superior hitting but his defense is horrible. 1B might be his thing.
Stanton RF
Hicks CF
Fraser LF
Urshela 3B
Andujar DH
Until Judge returns.
Still think, that Andujar’s best position is DH with occasional starts at 3rd to keep him loose…..his footwork and glove could spell disaster putting him at first…..and if you did, what to do with Voit……addition by subtraction isn’t a good idea at all……Voit is the current first baseman because of his hitting and defense that is average and improving all the time…..plus he puts in hours trying to improve on defense. Finally his enthusiasm and overall team effort would make it CRAZY to take him off first….he’s not a platoon player.
Sorry but Andujar just seems like one of those guys that will have to adapt to DH as a career.
Agreed.
Already with an injury to Jimenez, I really hope this guy is not injury prone.
That’s part of the reason why you don’t give a huge contract to someone that hasn’t played in the big leagues. Durability is part of the equation.
Is it me or is everyone that received an extension this year been absolute crap? Kyle Hendricks, Jacob degrom, Jimenez is hurt. I’ll check the stats on the others but man it seems like it’s cursed
You missed Sale, who has probably been the worst of all.
From what I saw on the replay, it looked like the area for a high ankle sprain if not worse. I’d be shocked if he’s playing in the next two weeks.
No, I’m not a doctor but, I did take a prostitute to a Holiday Inn Express for a couple of hours seven years ago.
Idk if there is a more impatient team with prospects than the nationals.
Imagine the kind of team theyd have if they kept everyone they traded away for short term pieces the last 5 or so years.
What are you talking about
Taylor Hearn had a rough outing in his 1st big league game. I don’t think he was quite ready for the big league yet. Rangers have a history of playing young players too soon. It was already known Hearn was a bit wild in AAA. He didn’t show he was able to control his pitches. but he shows a lot of promise. Jon Daniels traded Keone Kela to Pittsburgh for Taylor Hearn. Kela is a good young pitcher, its too early to know how this trade will play out.
Great comments soapbox, Hopefully Hearn is not hurt, we sure need to make a trade for a workhorse of a pitcher, Rumbling about choo right now,who knows but we need help, lots of pitching help
As a Bucs fan I honestly hope that trade works out for both teams. Kela go off to a rough draft this year but overall has been solid. I think you’re right that Hearn might not be major league ready yet, and hopefully this injury is just a small bump in the road.
22-year old phenom..with a -0.7 rWAR. Not that he won’t be a big star but maybe drop the word phenom for something more modest considering.
That’s why I am tired of hearing about Vlad jr already. These guys have too much expectations placed on them. Way too many of these guys are supposed to be the next Barry Bonds and do absolutely nothing. It seems like some of the best players in the game just came out of nowhere.
I understand where you’re coming from, but who are the guys that were supposed to be the next Bonds that busted? It seems like all the guys of the Vladdy/Jimenez/Acuna etc. Have panned out.
So Vladdy has panned out after 1 game. JHC talk about jumping the shark!
I mean the prospects of their caliber not him and Eloy specifically.
How about Jurickson Profar? Overall #1 prospect, good player but not a superstar. How about Yoan Moncada? Overall #1 prospect, like Profar decent player but not really that special. How about Jesus Montero? Top 5 prospect 2 or 3 years in a row, never did anything.
Plus Acuna has not even played a full season yet. It’s too early because there have been many ROYs that didn’t last long. He could be great, but it’s too early to say he has panned out as a superstar.
Once again….none of those players put up the offensive production Vlad Guerrero put up in the minors. Please stop with the unfair comparisons. Stick to watching the most overrated player in baseball in Colorado.
Sure it’s possible that any minor leaguer could flame out in the big leagues but when you look at the plate discipline and the hit tool that Vlad Jr. has, barring a significant injury, it is almost impossible to see him fail at the big league level.
Most of the guys that seem to flame out as high end prospects are guys that are 5 tool but the one tool that may not be elite, and turns out not to be elite is the hit tool.
I’m sure there was someone who has the production at Vlad Jr.s age in the minors that flamed our but I couldn’t find anyone. His minor league production was unheard of at he was the youngest guy at every level he went to. I find it hard to believe he will struggle in the big leagues at all.
He will be challenged in the majors. They are the best players in the world. It will be interesting to see how he responds to the challenge.
Last three seasons: Ages 19-21, never OPS below .901 in minors, across four leagues. 21 major league games, 85 PAs. Of course, not all of these great minor league players live up to their hype, but I can see why phenom was used. And will trade you Mazara for him if you like…
I hope he lives up to the hype cause he’s on my team, but minors are a totally different thing. With that being said I think he will he really good
Yeah the pitching si way different from aaa to the majors …with the new balls their using in aaa the stats will be bonkers
Eloy Jimenez is such a bad outfielder it is somewhat dangerous to his health.
Vlad Jr will be a star and eventually a first base guy. His range will expose him at 3rd.
Bichette will be a below average bat and likely end up at 2nd base somewhere.
Hype is hype but good scouting can cut through all that.
Good debut for Kelvin Gutierrez this evening. I’m curious to see if he can snag the 3b job for the Royals. Possibly move Dozier to RF and Soler to where he belongs at DH.